POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, and FDLE Special Agents, briefed the media at 10:30 a.m. this morning about “Operation Heavy Lift,” a statewide investigation during which six suspects were charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud.
The updated story can be read here. 4 Charged, 2 At Large In “Operation Heavy Lift” Florida Home Depot Organized Crime Spree
The suspects within this criminal organization filled out rental forms for heavy equipment from The Home Depot stores across the state, didn’t return the equipment, and then sold it on social media platforms.
The thefts, involving Toro Dingo utility loaders, stump grinders, trenchers, and mini-excavators (and the trailers they sit on) affected 16 counties within Florida, including 12 judicial circuits.
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The suspects committed at least 50 thefts, with a loss to Home Depot of nearly $600,000.
The thefts occurred in the following counties: Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, St. Johns, and St. Lucie.
The suspects are being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. The Home Depot retail theft investigators and Florida Department of Law Enforcement special agents were integral to the successful outcome of this investigation.
We will update this story as more details are released.
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