CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said six people across the Carolinas are now accused of maintaining a retail theft ring involving up to $300,000 worth of power tools stolen from Home Depot stores in two counties.
CMPD said officers worked with the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, as well as other agencies, to track down the suspects involved. The investigation started in 2022 when Home Depot theft investigators identified 33-year-old Steven Vanderburg as a suspect. Police said he stole new power tools from both Home Depot and Lowe's locations in both counties.
Officers said Vanderburg didn't just steal the tools, but would then go on to sell them to other people at a discounted rate. Those people would then list the items for sale on social media sites, priced well below the actual retail price.
CMPD said several undercover operations led them to figure out the suspects' identities, the vehicles used, and where the stolen tools were kept. On March 8, warrants were signed for the arrest of Vanderburg and his girlfriend, 28-year-old Cheri Taylor.
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The next day, more search warrants were handled by CMPD, Cabarrus County deputies, the Pineville Police Department, and the Greenville County Sheriff's Office in the upstate of South Carolina. Law enforcement officers were able to seize about $82,000 in cash, about $50,000 worth of new tools, and three vehicles. Four additional people were arrested. Of the six total arrests made, four were held under secure bonds in the Cabarrus County Detention Center, one was arrested and processed in Gaston County, and one was arrested and processed in Greenville County.
Here's the full list of people arrested and the charges they face:
- Steven Vanderburg, age 33 - two counts of organized retail theft greater than $20,000, continuing a criminal enterprise, 12 counts of obtaining property by false pretense, misdemeanor possession of stolen goods
- Cheri Danielle Taylor, age 28 - two counts of organized retail theft greater than $20,000
- Emilio Reyes Sanchez, age 41 - one count of organized retail theft greater than $1,500
- Cesar Calixto-Navarro, age 38 - one count of organized retail theft greater than $1,500
- Dhruv Desai, age 37 - one count of organized retail theft greater than $1,500
- Amy McMahan, age 42 - one count of organized retail theft greater than $1,500
CMPD cracks down on organized retail theft
CMPD has been zeroing in on retail theft since the creation of its Organized Retail Theft Task Force in 2019.
The task force investigated 481 cases in 2021, with the group clearing 255 of those.
"What we're talking about, quite frankly, are people who are committing shoplifting as a way to earn a living," Stephen Fischbach, a lieutenant with CMPD, said. "That's how prolific this is."
The task force focuses on repeat offenders who officers say are terrorizing retailers.
So far in 2022, the task force has seen 25 cases that have resulted in some sort of robbery that started with shoplifting.
Police said one of the latest instances that turned violent happened on March 20 at a Home Depot in the RiverGate Shopping Center in the Steele Creek area.
According to a police report, a suspect stole an ax and threatened an employee with the ax before getting away with copper tubing, copper fittings, electrical wiring, plastic buckets, and more.
“This isn’t just about a shoplifting," Antony Finocchio, a detective with CMPD's Organized Retail Theft Task Force, said. "This is a big, big business, and they’ll do anything it takes to make money and support whatever it is they need to support.”
CMPD tweeted out pictures of the people they are looking for in connection to the case at the Home Depot.
According to the National Retail Federation, organized retail crime now costs retailers an average of $700,000 per $1 billion in sales.
Police added that crimes like these make every consumer a victim in the end.
"We all need to realize those prices we pay, we're paying more because people like this are going out there and stealing," Fischbach said.
Police said if you witness a retail theft, don’t intervene. They encourage the public to call 911, take pictures and videos, try to get a license plate number, and stay on scene to help with the investigation.
Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.