Home Depot Crime Ring Made Off With More Than $2 Million in Goods

An organized theft ring targeting hundreds of Home Depot stores across nine states has been busted by authorities. The Queens, New York-based group of thieves, dubbed “Operation Self Checkout,” consisted of 13 members and stole $2.2 million in merchandise, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a press release on Thursday. There have been more than 300 documented thefts at 128 different Home Depot stores, according to the statement. Police have recovered merchandise valued at $1.5 million, which officials said will likely increase as investigators sort through the recovered items. The ring was allegedly led by Armando Diaz, 52, and would meet at 5:30 a.m. every day to plan each “hit,” officials said. They were active for “years,” pulling in anywher