Gastonia Police Sting Nets 28 Arrests, Thousands in Stolen Merchandise

Gastonia police and their partners made 28 arrests during a two-day operation targeting shoplifters at 12 retail locations across the city. The sting, which took place on August 4, resulted in 8 felony charges and 38 misdemeanor charges, with several arrests tied to habitual larceny, conspiracy, and drug possession.

The recovered stolen merchandise was valued at thousands of dollars, according to police. Officers worked alongside store employees at the targeted locations, which included Lowe's, Target, Home Depot, and Dick's Sporting Goods. Several of the arrests also involved drug possession cases that included fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The operation reflects North Carolina's Habitual Offender Law, which allows prosecutors to charge shoplifters with a Class H felony if they have four or more prior larceny convictions, regardless of the value of the latest theft. The law also classifies conspiracy to commit retail theft exceeding $1,500 within a 90-day window as a Class H felony.