Group of women steal thousands from local mom's business

PUYALLUP, Wash. - The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department needs your help finding two women they say stole thousands of dollars from a local mom’s business.

In November, the sheriff’s department says a group of women went into Las Monarcas Market on River Road East in Puyallup.

Inside one of the woman distracted an employee, while the other stole thousands of dollars, deputies say.

"We are {working} 12, 14 hours every day here, and I need to pay that money because that money is not my money," said Maria Apreza.

Apreza is the owner of the business. 

She tells FOX 13 News the cash was from customers’ transfers money to their families in Mexico. 

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department calls the crime "organized retail theft," an issue plaguing Washington State.

Back in June, the attorney general’s office created a statewide "organized retail crime theft task force."

Thursday, FOX 13 News reached out to the AG’s office to see what steps the task force has made since the summer announcement

Officials with his office say the task force is now at about 200 members, has its third meeting scheduled, and has received $2.265 million for operations over the next two years. 

While progress is slowly made toward addressing the issue, many local business owners, like Apreza, still suffer from the effects of retail crime.

"I work every day, all day, for that {to} happen? It’s crazy," she said.

The suspects are still out there. 

If you have any information, reach out to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department or Crime Stoppers.