Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, Cheltenham Township Chief of Police John P. Slavin, and Plymouth Township Chief of Police John C. Myrsiades announced today the arrests of Balvin Greene, 32; Terrell Jackson, 39; and Kristopher Heard, 38, all of Philadelphia, on multiple felonies related to the theft of $51,350.01 from Home Depot stores in Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Philadelphia counties.
According to DA Steele, an investigation involving the Montgomery County Detectives Bureau, Cheltenham Township and Plymouth Township police, and the Philadelphia’s Retail Theft Initiative Police Officers, found that from May 18 through August 11, the theft group committed 38 thefts from Home Depot stores in the above-mentioned counties.
The group targeted high-value goods, including Ryobi pressure washers, air conditioners, battery starter kits, Shark vacuum cleaners and Milwaukee Battery Chainsaws, the DA said.
“The defendants walked out of Home Depot stores without paying for the merchandise, then immediately traveled to a co-conspirator in Philadelphia to sell the merchandise at below market amounts through ‘porch sales’ and other methods,” the DA said in a statement.
On August 14, search and arrest warrants were executed in multiple locations in Philadelphia which led to the recovery of approximately $10,000 in stolen goods, $2,000 in cash and illegal drugs.
“Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. It drives up costs for consumers, threatens the safety of store employees and drains resources from our communities,” said DA Steele. “We have been working closely with multiple retailers, including Home Depot, Target and Lowes, to curtail these organized retail crime groups and shut down this illegal activity.”
Jackson, Greene and Heard are charged with running a Corrupt Organization, Organized Retail Theft, Retail Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Retail Theft, Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activity and related charges. Jackson and Greene were arraigned on August 14 before Magisterial District Judge Todd Stephens, who set Jackson’s bail at $25,000 cash and Greene’s bail at $25,077.
A preliminary hearing for Jackson and Greene is scheduled for August 28, at 11:30am before Magisterial District Judge Christopher J. Cerski.
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Photos: Montco DA