Over the past six months, two Home Depot locations in Windsor have lost $700,000 in merchandise to shoplifters.
Now, 12 suspects face charges.
Constable Bianca Jackson told WindsorNewsToday.ca that some suspects allegedly worked together, while others committed the thefts on their own.
They all face theft charges, and police had outstanding arrest warrants for three.
On September 28 and 29, officers from the Windsor Police Problem-Oriented Policing Unit met with the loss prevention teams at the two stores to talk about ways to prevent retail thefts.
Since then, police found more than $3,500 in stolen merchandise and three stolen vehicles. One vehicle is a Land Rover worth $140,000.
"People sometimes think of retail theft as a victimless crime," said Acting Deputy Chief of Operations Jason Crowley. "But, the reality is that it can cost retailers millions, lead to higher prices for consumers, and result in people losing their jobs."
The specialized unit launched in 2018 to focus on serious crimes in neighbourhoods.
