13 charged in Home Depot theft ring spanning 9 states, prosecutors say

Queens retail theft ring: 13 charged with 780 counts

Thirteen people have been charged with allegedly being involved in a stolen goods operation targeting Home Depot stores throughout New York and eight other states. FOX 5 NY's Stephanie Bertini has the latest.

Prosecutors in New York have charged 13 people for reportedly running a major Home Depot theft ring that targeted 128 stores in nine states.

According to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, the 13 suspects are facing 780 counts of grand larceny, conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property. 

Massive Home Depot theft ring

By the numbers:

Authorities say they found 319 documented thefts at 128 Home Depot stores across nine states. The suspects allegedly stole more than $2.2 million worth of items over a 13-month period. The amount of merchandise stolen a single day ranged from about $1,800 to nearly $35,000.

Some of the stolen goods from a massive Home Depot theft ring that spanned nine states and 128 Home Depot stores (Queens District Attorney's Office)

Local perspective:

The suspects targeted stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware and Maryland, prosecutors alleged.

What they're saying:

"The defendants took breaks for lunch and dinner, sometimes hitting the same Home Depot up to four times in one day," Katz said. 

How it worked

Dig deeper:

Prosecutors say between August 14, 2024, and September 11, 2025, the theft crew, led by Armando Diaz of Flushing, New York, met almost daily at 5:30 a.m. in a parking lot in Queens to prepare for the day’s "hits." The suspects reportedly decided which stores to hit each day based on the inventory listed on the Home Depot website and app. 

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Diaz and seven other members of the theft crew then traveled in Diaz’s van and in another lookout vehicle to the targeted stores. When they got there, three or four theft crew members entered the Home Depot separately, walking through the aisles as if they were browsing. 

Meanwhile, Diaz communicated with them through their earbuds, directing them on what to steal, how to steal it and whether anyone was watching, prosecutors said. 

FILE - Prosecutors say 13 people stole $2.2 million worth of goods in a major Home Depot theft ring (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Often, the stolen items were placed in a 96-gallon trash bin or in a cart to be wheeled out of the store. Sometimes, the suspects would cover their faces with a large piece of sheetrock or plywood in the cart, while other members of the theft ring would distract a Home Depot employee.

One of the other suspects reportedly stayed in the parking lot to watch out for police officers and instruct the crew on where to park the van.

The items were sold to black market retailers, known as fences, who allegedly ordered specific items to be stolen and then resold those goods to consumers through a Brooklyn storefront or on Facebook Marketplace. 

What They Stole:

The most common items stolen were insulation kits, buckets of reflective roof coating, power tools, air conditioners and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Stolen items were found in three separate homes, 14 storage units and eight vehicles. 

What's next:

Eleven suspects have been arrested, while one suspect remains at large and another is set to be arraigned at a later date. The suspects face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.