Nine suspects were apprehended by Texas police for their alleged involvement in four shoplifting incidents that occurred near a suburban mall during a blitz operation.

This week, nine suspects were arrested in Austin, Texas, for their alleged involvement in four theft cases at Target, Kohl's, and Lowe's as part of a shoplifting blitz operation near the Lakeline Mall, coinciding with the start of holiday shopping.

An empty baby stroller was allegedly used to conceal unpaid merchandise at Kohl's by four individuals.

The suspects abandoned the stroller and were caught by police outside the store, according to the Austin Police Department.

The police recovered approximately $1,100 in merchandise from the stroller and seized an additional $1,200 in stolen goods found in their vehicle.

Five individuals, including Melain Gomez, Alexis Garza, Jesus Jimenez-Gomez, and Jessica Gomez, were charged with one count of engaging in organized criminal activity, a third-degree felony.

A "high-value repeat offender" named Javier Rios was apprehended after he was accused of leaving a Lowe's store with a flatbed containing an AC unit worth $2,156 without paying for it.

Additionally, the police confiscated a $609 shower set from his car, which he was accused of stealing from another Lowe's store on the same day.

Rios was accused of theft and a state jail felony, in addition to two outstanding arrest warrants for larceny.

"Shoplifting occurs more frequently than people believe, according to Molly McClanahan, assistant manager of clothing store Hemline Austin. She stated that it is more common in larger stores with more space to conceal or escape."

In an effort to prevent theft from dressing rooms, Hemline Austin restricts the number of items customers can try on.

A man and woman were arrested in a Target store parking lot after the man, a repeat offender named Donovan Clausen, 23, allegedly stole $614 worth of merchandise and fled the store.

Christina Shell, 44, was found with stolen jewelry and beauty items from Target and Kohl's, as well as narcotics, when she met up with the man at his car.

One count of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance were brought against Clausen.

Shell was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Another "high-value repeat offender" was caught after he allegedly fled in his vehicle with a woman.

Martin Morales, 54, was accused of abandoning a cart full of unpaid items and fleeing from Target employees.

Morales was arrested for theft and a state jail felony after being stopped by police. Crystal Overby, the driver of the vehicle, had an active warrant for her arrest.