Thirty-two people are facing more than 200 charges in connection with an investigation into “organized retail theft” that saw hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise stolen from Home Depot in Hamilton, Ont., city police say.
The Hamilton Police service launched Project Checkout in response to a 25 percent increase in thefts from Home Depot stores in the city. The four-month probe found that what appeared to be a series of incidents was actually an organized operation, Hamilton police said in a press release.
“Investigators found organized groups were stealing high-value tools and construction equipment from Hamilton Home Depot stores before reselling the items through online marketplaces at prices well below retail,” police said. “In several incidents, offenders threatened violence when store employees attempted to intervene.”
Two search warrants were executed at a commercial property and residence, resulting in the recovery of hundreds of suspected stolen tools and other items believed to be linked to the theft ring, according to the press release. A 2021 Ram TRX, suspected to be associated with criminal proceeds and valued at about $100,000, was also confiscated.
More than $300,000 in suspected stolen property was recovered during the investigation and 32 people are now facing a total of 235 criminal charges, police said.
The suspects range in age from 19 to 64. A complete list of the names and the charges each person faces can be found here.
“Organized retail theft extends far beyond the store. Stolen property is often resold online, fuelling criminal activity while driving up costs for businesses and consumers,” police said. “By disrupting this network, investigators recovered stolen property, prevented additional offences and removed a significant supply of stolen merchandise from the illegal marketplace.”
Anyone with information about organized retail theft is asked to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.
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