QUEENS, NY — A large-scale retail theft investigation spanning nine states has culminated in the arrest of 13 suspects, accused of orchestrating a sweep-and-run operation that targeted 128 Home Depot stores and resulted in more than $2.2 million in stolen merchandise. Prosecutors say the ring operated with precision, consistency, and a level of organization not often seen in retail crime cases.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Coordinated Tactics
The investigation, formally known as Operation Self Checkout, was built on surveillance videos showing suspects walking into Home Depot stores across multiple states, filling oversized bins, and simply pushing them out the front door without paying. In one instance, a suspect was recorded wheeling out an entire pallet of merchandise in broad daylight.
Investigators said these actions were not isolated incidents, but part of a daily, systemized routine. “They’d go back, rinse, and repeat the next day. It was very organized,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated.
Among the items recovered were power drills, smoke detectors, tape measures, air conditioners, and other high-demand hardware, many of them still in boxes and prepared for resale.
The Operation Started Each Morning in Queens
Authorities say the group treated their operation like a job. Each morning around 5 a.m., the alleged thieves met in a Queens Center Mall parking lot before dispersing to whichever Home Depot had the most desirable inventory that day. According to investigators, the nightly planning involved reviewing store stock online, selecting targets based on what was available and easiest to resell.
Although the thefts occurred across nine states, the operation’s core hub was based in Queens, where suspects allegedly stored stolen merchandise inside warehouses and apartments before reselling it through online marketplaces.
Scope of the Thefts Stunned Investigators
Officials documented 319 separate thefts, totaling a daily haul ranging anywhere from $1,800 to nearly $35,000. By the time of Thursday’s announcement, authorities had recovered approximately $1.5 million of the stolen items.
Governor Kathy Hochul, standing alongside Katz at a press conference displaying seized goods, emphasized that widespread theft ultimately impacts consumers. “The result is your prices are higher than they ever should have been,” she said. “Honest shoppers pay the price.”
Katz added, “This is the largest and most brazen retail spree that we have ever prosecuted.”
Ringleader and Co-Conspirators Face Serious Penalties
Among the 13 defendants is the alleged ringleader, Armando Diaz, charged with grand larceny and other offenses. Prosecutors say Diaz oversaw daily operations, coordinated store targets, and handled the redistribution of stolen items.
If convicted, Diaz and the top leaders of the ring face up to 25 years in prison, reflecting the scope of the ongoing criminal enterprise. Investigators noted that while 13 arrests have been made, the broader probe continues.
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Law Enforcement Stresses Broader Impact
Authorities warned that large-scale organized theft operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, affecting both retailers and consumers. Officials emphasized that retail theft is not a victimless crime: losses are often passed on through increased prices for everyday shoppers.
Investigators also credited coordinated work between state police, prosecutors, and retail loss-prevention teams for breaking open the case.
Have retail thefts become too organized and widespread? Share your thoughts in the comments — should states impose stricter penalties for coordinated retail crime rings?
