LIME CITY – More than 65 individuals have been indicted following a six-month investigation, initiated in
Perrysburg Township, into a theft ring which operated in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
As of Friday, 48 of those indicted have been arrested, including 12 arrested Friday at multiple locations
in North Baltimore.
The investigation involved retail thefts occurring over more than two years at stores including Home
Depot, Lowes, T.J. Maxx, JC Penney, Target, Walmart and Meijer. The thefts are expected to involve
property loss in the neighborhood of $500,000.
The more than 175 counts on the 65-plus individuals involve engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity,
Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson said at a news conference held at the Perrysburg Township Police
Department. All of those arrested were adults, and many had prior criminal involvement.
Perrysburg Township Det. Sgt. Jim Gross indicated that two years ago the department began investigating a
retail theft group operating in the area. Among their operating methods, the individuals would steal a
piece of merchandise from a store and then return it. As a matter of policy, he said, many stores will
accept the return without a receipt and instead of giving back cash, will issue store credit on a gift
card. Dobson indicated that the credit can be tracked, a feature which aided in the investigation. The
sale of stolen merchandise was also involved.
Gross said the department subsequently began to work with local loss prevention officials with the
various retailers and started to identify those taking part in the thefts. About six months ago, major
players in the incidents began to be identified.
In July, a number of warrants were executed in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan in which more than
100 gift cards, valued at about $40,000 and $50,000 in merchandise, were recovered.
Agencies including the Toledo Drug Enforcement Agency office; Toledo, Sylvania, Oregon, and Michigan
State police; and Wood, Putnam, Hancock, Monroe, and Lenawee County sheriff’s offices all assisted in
the endeavor, as did the Ohio Investigative Unit.
“This is a good day for the law enforcement in the area and it an even better day for our local
retailers,” said Det. Todd Curtis, who originally worked on the case. As to whether any of the subjects
resisted when arrested, he said “everything went smoothly.”
The matter is still under investigation.
“We’d rather not comment on how far the investigation could go,” Dobson said.