WELLEN PARK — A mother and daughter from Wellen Park were arrested this week, accused of carrying out more than six dozen retail thefts at a local store, according to affidavits. Both women were released on $2,500 bond.
Investigators say the pair never shopped together, but loss-prevention officers uncovered a pattern of theft after noticing unusually high sales of a specific plastic cup. When the store manager reviewed transaction data, the location showed a significant spike in cup sales compared to other stores in the region.
A loss-prevention officer then pulled surveillance footage and identified two women who were either bypassing the self-checkout scanner with items or using the barcode from the inexpensive plastic cup to ring up higher-priced merchandise.
According to the report, the first suspect — identified as De Luca — conducted 48 fraudulent transactions totaling $1,621.35. The second suspect, identified as Cohen, completed 30 similar transactions valued at $751.55.
Through social media, investigators confirmed the two women were mother and daughter living at the same residence near the store. The loss-prevention officer also discovered that Cohen used a Club Publix card belonging to De Luca, and that De Luca left the store after one transaction in a vehicle registered to Cohen.
During interviews with investigators, both women acknowledged that store surveillance photos taken during the thefts showed them, the affidavits state.