Overview
- The alleged crew carried out 319 thefts across 128 Home Depot stores in nine states between August 2024 and September 2025.
- Eleven defendants have been arrested and arraigned, one is set for a later arraignment, and one remains at large, prosecutors said.
- Searches of three homes, 14 storage units and eight vehicles recovered an estimated $1.5 million in goods, with accounting ongoing.
- Prosecutors say the group met near-daily in East Elmhurst at 5:30 a.m., used earbuds and distraction tactics to wheel out merchandise, and funneled items to fences for resale through a Brooklyn storefront and online marketplaces.
- Officials describe the bust as Queens’ largest retail-theft takedown, credited to a multiagency probe that began after online resales were flagged in 2024, with charges including grand larceny, conspiracy and possession of stolen property.