A retail theft ring that targeted Macy's and other retailers has been charged in New York.

• In Midtown Manhattan, New York, two individuals were accused of having over $1 million in stolen goods and selling them through their business, as stated by New York authorities.
• According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, $212,000 of merchandise was stolen from Macy's, while the remaining amount came from CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens-owned Duane Reade, and other retailers.
• Retailers like Target and Ulta are increasingly reporting theft as a major issue in their stores.

On Wednesday, it was reported that a New York beauty store located near the Empire State Building sold over $1 million in stolen goods from various retailers, authorities stated.

At a press conference, District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that two individuals from New York were arrested for possessing over $1 million in stolen goods and reselling them through their business, Rehana's Cosmetics, a perfume and cosmetics store located in Midtown Manhattan.

The merchandise stolen from Macy's was valued at approximately $212,000, with the remaining amount sourced from Rite Aid, Walgreens-owned Duane Reade, CVS, NHL Shop, Bragg, and other retailers, according to Bragg.

"According to Bragg, our investigation revealed that Rehana's Cosmetics was frequently targeted by shoplifters, who would intentionally steal from the store. This, he claims, created a motive for shoplifters to commit crimes, and therefore, the defendants are accused of being accomplices in the commission of crimes."

According to Bragg, Rehana's Cosmetics claimed to be a beauty and perfume store, but was actually found to contain hundreds of boxes filled with products not typically found at such stores, including designer purses, over-the-counter medications, and kitchenware. Bragg alleged that the defendants obtained the stolen items from shoplifters for the purpose of reselling.

"Greed is the alleged root cause, as Bragg stated. Their actions were driven by the desire to earn money, which is an age-old motive."

Retailers such as Sephora and Ulta are increasingly citing theft as a major issue in their stores. A recent CNBC investigation revealed that a monthslong investigation uncovered an organized retail crime ring that stole millions in cosmetics from Ulta stores and resold them on eBay.

To have a "meaningful impact on organized retail crime," retailers, law enforcement, and prosecutors must collaborate to investigate and apprehend the criminals involved, as stated by Dan Petrousek, senior vice president of loss prevention at Ulta, in a statement to CNBC.

"Our ORC investigative team, in collaboration with local authorities and other retailers, has successfully concluded an investigation at Ulta Beauty. We are dedicated to eradicating these criminal enterprises and safeguarding our stores and communities."

Bragg stated that he couldn't provide a specific number of stores involved in similar operations, but emphasized that there have been "too many assaults" on employees at stores with theft issues.

"Our multi-pronged prosecution strategy will effectively combat retail theft, ensuring the safety of our store employees, discouraging resale of stolen goods, and promoting the growth of our retail sector," he stated.

A Macy's spokesperson stated in a CNBC interview that they value the efforts of law enforcement and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and will refrain from making any comments regarding the case.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office is "appreciated" by CVS, according to a spokesperson for the drugstore.

The spokesperson stated that our partnerships with law enforcement are crucial in our efforts to stop ORC rings from stealing and selling stolen goods online. We are excited to maintain our strong partnership with the DA's Office as we work together to combat ORC across New York City.

Earlier this year, a Walgreens representative informed CNBC that the company is implementing measures to prevent theft while providing the best possible patient and customer experience.

CNBC did not receive an immediate response from other retailers accused of stealing goods in the bust.