When you think of someone stealing merchandise from a big box retailer you probably first think of smaller items that could easily be concealed in purses or on your person. But that certainly wasn’t the case for a mother-daughter duo accused of making away with bed sets, ottomans, chairs, and other items through a return scam at several California Target stores. 

Authorities in Hesperia, CA, tell the Victor Valley News that the mother and daughter allegedly stole $28,000 in merchandise from Target stores in San Bernadino and Los Angeles counties starting in 2015.

This week, deputies recovered some of that stolen merchandise after serving a search warrant related to a commercial burglary at a Target on March 29.

A Target Loss Prevention investigation of return records uncovered a complex scheme in which the pair switched barcodes on items in order to pilfer thousands of dollars through 378 return transitions.

Deputies say that during their search, which took place on Tuesday, they were able to return chairs, ottomans, bed sets, curtains, decor, and other miscellaneous household products to the Target stores.

Victor Valley News reports that the 32-year-old woman turned herself into authorities on Tuesday. She has been charged commercial burglary, grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Police are still looking for her 52-year-old mother.

Mother and Daughter Duo Busted in Target Scheme [Victor Valley News]

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