VENTURA, CA – Authorities in Ventura County have announced the arrest of 14 individuals implicated in what is being described as the largest Home Depot theft case in the nation’s history. Prosecutors allege that the group orchestrated at least 600 thefts across 71 Home Depot locations throughout Southern California, accumulating $10 million in stolen merchandise.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Kill Switch,” focused on the theft of electrical components such as switches, dimmers, and outlets. The operation reportedly spanned several years, with a central figure based in Tarzana, Los Angeles, directing the thefts. This individual allegedly instructed a team to target Home Depot stores, often striking multiple locations in a single morning.
Surveillance footage from one Home Depot store shows suspects entering at 6 a.m., filling their jackets with items, and exiting with approximately $10,000 worth of merchandise per visit. The stolen goods were then transported to the main suspect’s store in Tarzana, where they were sold at discounted rates, both in-store and online through platforms like Amazon and eBay.
Authorities have warned consumers about unusually low prices on these platforms, suggesting that such deals might be linked to stolen goods. The operation’s scale is believed to have allowed the suspects to maintain a fully stocked store, creating the illusion of legitimate business operations.
The arrests include family members and employees of the main suspect, identified as David All. These individuals, referred to as “boosters,” were responsible for the thefts, while “fences” handled the resale of the stolen items.
A new California law, supported across party lines, has facilitated the consolidation of cases from multiple counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura. This allows for a single, comprehensive case that could lead to more significant legal repercussions for those involved.
This case is being closely monitored as a test of the new legal framework, which aims to streamline the prosecution of large-scale theft operations. The outcome may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: John Nightbridge
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://conservativestar.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
