HOLYOKE — Holyoke Police Detective Melissa Rex made her way through the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, past the stores decorated for the holidays and shoppers with strollers and bags of goods.

“Hello,” she said as she knocked and then opened a door in Target labeled team members only. She emerged from the office moments later. No one from the store’s loss prevention team was in.

As she walked into the mall, headed towards Macy’s, she waved to a person behind the counter at the Sunglass Hut. “Hi Amelia!”

More than $1 million worth of merchandise has been stolen so far this year from retailers in the mall, part of a problem that hounds retailers nationally. As detective, Rex’s job focuses on these thefts, particularly on organized rings that steal goods in order to resell them in convenience

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