Fake contractor cards used in $100,000 theft scheme at Lowe’s, cops say. 2 men charged
A theft ring targeting Lowe’s led to more than $100,000 in losses for the home improvement store, Georgia police said.
Now, two Atlanta-area men are facing charges.
The duo is accused of using fake contractor and business accounts to make unauthorized purchases at a Lowe’s in Carrollton, the city’s police department said Sept. 10 on Facebook.
A victim reported the “suspicious activity,” and the two men were arrested. Investigators said the men and two others are suspected of being involved in a major crime ring.
“Through collaboration with Lowes, it was revealed that this group was responsible for over $100,000 in losses, impacting more than 34 Lowes stores across the Southeast,” according to the Carrollton Police Department.
McClatchy News reached out to Lowe’s for comment Sept. 12 and was awaiting a response.
The bust is part of an ongoing investigation into two crime rings “affecting prominent retailers” in the region, police said. Authorities shared the suspects’ information with other law enforcement agencies, leading to “additional charges and arrests related to the thefts at various locations.”
The Georgia men were charged with identity fraud, computer invasion of privacy and organized retail theft, the police department said.
Carrollton is about a 50-mile drive west from downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Fake contractor cards used in $100,000 theft scheme at Lowe’s, cops say. 2 men charged."