Operation Self Checkout bust nets 13 suspects accused of stealing $2.2M from Home Depot across nine states
QUEENS, NY – A Queens-based retail theft crew accused of ripping off more than $2.2 million in merchandise from Home Depot stores across nine states has been dismantled, with prosecutors unveiling a sweeping 780-count indictment against 13 defendants.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said the group carried out 319 documented thefts over a 13-month span, targeting 128 Home Depot locations in New York and eight other states. Investigators allege the defendants stole everything from power tools and air conditioners to smoke alarms, detergent and paper towels, then sold the goods to black-market resellers who allegedly placed specific orders for items to be stolen.
According to the indictment, the theft crew met almost daily before dawn in East Elmhurst to plan their runs, sometimes hitting the same store multiple times in a single day. Prosecutors say the crew used coordinated roles, with lookouts, distraction tactics and constant communication through earbuds while inside stores to evade detection.
The operation allegedly stretched from August 2024 through September, with daily theft totals ranging from about $1,800 to nearly $35,000. After completing their runs, the group allegedly sold the stolen merchandise to five fences at locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, as well as through social media marketplaces.
Eleven defendants were arraigned this week on charges including conspiracy, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. One defendant remains at large and another is expected to be arraigned at a later date. Prosecutors say the alleged crew leader has been remanded, and the defendants face potential prison sentences of up to 25 years if convicted.
The investigation began in June 2024 after investigators spotted stolen Home Depot merchandise during surveillance in an unrelated case. Authorities used license plate readers, court-authorized electronic surveillance and extensive video evidence provided by Home Depot. Searches of homes, storage units and vehicles led to the seizure of an estimated $1.5 million in stolen goods, a figure expected to rise.
State Police, Homeland Security Investigations and the New York Attorney General’s Office assisted in the probe, which officials say is part of a broader crackdown on organized retail theft rings.
Criminal charges are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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Key Points
- Thirteen defendants indicted for allegedly stealing more than $2.2 million from Home Depot stores
- Prosecutors say the crew carried out 319 thefts across nine states over 13 months
- Authorities seized an estimated $1.5 million in stolen merchandise during searches
