Two nabbed in large shoplifting ring
As many as 40 hit Home Depot stores
City of Delafield - Sometimes catching a thief is all about timing.
That's what occurred when two Milwaukee men, who are suspected of being part of a large organization of shoplifters thought to have stolen tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Home Depot stores and passing counterfeit money, were apprehended after one of the men allegedly stole items from the Delafield store Monday.
Charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Tuesday were Abraham Scull, 27, and Keenan McDonald, 21, both with misdemeanor charges of retail theft.
According to police, Keenan was witnessed taking high-end saw blades and dimmer switches and concealing them in a baggy sweatshirt at The Home Depot, 3400 Hillside Drive. A store employee confronted Keenan, but Keenan walked away and left the store, police said.
An assistant manager called the manager of the store. The manager, who happened to be getting in his car at the store at the time, saw the suspect, who appeared to be headed toward his car.
Keenan got into a SUV that was parked next to the manager's car. The manager noted the type of vehicle and the license plate number and watched which direction the SUV went when it left, police said.
Police were notified at 4:26 p.m. and were provided with a description of the vehicle as well as the license plate number. Twelve minutes later, a Waukesha County Sheriff's Department deputy stopped the vehicle on I-94 near Brookfield Road, police said.
Delafield police went to that location and found Keenan smoking marijuana and items from The Home Depot in the vehicle. Scull was the driver of the car, and he was taken into custody as well.
Scull was also in possession of $2,400 worth of Home Depot gift cards, police said.
The two men are suspected of being a part of a larger ring of 30 to 40 people who typically steal high-end saw blades and dimmer switches from Home Depot stores throughout the state. The Home Depot officials have told police they think the group is responsible for stealing as much as $28,000 worth of merchandise.
The group steals the merchandise and then takes it to another store as a return item, police said. They typically target stores along the I-94 and I-43 corridors, police noted.
Police noted at the time of the theft in Delafield, two people were suspected of a similar theft at the Home Depot in Grafton, though those suspects got away.
The group may also be involved in counterfeit money, though it is not certain whether they simply distribute the money or print the money, as well as distribute it, police said. The group is suspected of passing as much as $78,000 in counterfeit money, police said. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating that aspect of the group's activities.
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