Renton Police made numerous arrests recently after thwarting an effort of organized retail theft, known as “BLITZ.”

On Oct. 19, members of the department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) and Patrol Operations Unit partnered with loss prevention personnel at Target and Lowes in Renton to conduct an operation. Along with the arrests, law enforcement also recovered of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

During a six-hour period, 12 suspects were arrested and charged with varying degrees of theft. A post from the Renton Police Department Facebook page shows some of the arrested suspects on retail security camera wheeling shopping carts out of the store with various items they allegedly did not pay for.

A spokesperson with the Renton Police Department said that the effort was planned by law enforcement for nearly two months in advance.

SET will continue to partner with area retailers in an attempt to prevent the on-going problem of organized retail theft in the city.