our delia gonsalves is live outside of fair oaks mall. and delia, you say police are reporting an increase in this, this time of year? >> reporter: absolutely. a record number of arrests and seizures of money and of stolen merchandise. they are blaming the economy for this spike and shoplifting. but thanks to some aggressive police work at area malls like here at fair oaks, they've managed to make a lot of arrests and recover several thousand dollars worth of stolen merchandise. one bust, for instance, netted more -- more than $58,000 worth of merchandise. most work undercover waiting to catch the thieves. >> we were at $14,000 in stolen merchandise stolen recovery and my year already this year is at $22,000. >> reporter: police say shoplifters are getting more aggressive and assaulting officers and even carrying guns and shoplifting items more than $200 is a felony. and this is certainly very important for the customers perspective because mall managers tell me if these stolen items are not recovered, someone has to pay and in the end it

. >> delia gonsalves, thank you. >>> two montgomery county women are arrested and accused of robbing a 74-year-old woman. police say 24-year-old paris holloway candice and 21-year- old shan't a cat rell assaulted the woman in downtown silver spring on tuesday morning and it happened in front of special undercover agents looking for street crime. they are being held at the montgomery county detention center. >>> a judge will look at yeardley love's medical records before deciding whether to release them to the attorneys. the former lacrosse player and chevy chase player george haguely is charged with killing love back in may. the medical examiner ruled she died from a blunt force injury to the head but his lawyers say the injury could be links to medication she's -- linked to case -- medication she's taken. >>> a doctor accused of sexual assault. the internist was arrested yesterday and released on personal recognizance. >>> fire has struck the home of washington redskins hall of famer bobby mitchell. bruce johnson talked with mitchell's wife who managed to escape the flames. >> repor