LEAGUE CITY, Texas - League City police say a shoplifting call that started at Sephora inside Kohl's earlier this month turned into a sweeping investigation that uncovered what they describe as a large organized retail theft operation.

According to the League City Police Department, its Business District Unit (BDU) recovered more than $400,000 worth of stolen merchandise - an estimated 15,000-plus items - and arrested 52-year-old Claudia Ivonne Higuera-Torres of Houston.

Police said officers were first dispatched to a theft report at the store on July 12.