2 men charged with stealing more than $100K in products from home improvement stores

Two Brockton men who police say were involved in a home improvement store theft ring, allegedly stealing more than $100,000 in merchandise from retailers for resale, were arraigned in Milford District Court on Thursday.

Paul Licciardi, 49, and Shawn Monteiro, 46, both of Brockton, pleaded not guilty to charges of larceny of more than $250, organized retail crime involving serial theft, being part of a criminal enterprise, and conspiracy, Worcester district attorney’s office spokesman Tim Connolly said.

Licciardi and Monteiro were ordered held on $25,000 and $10,000 cash bail, respectively, Connolly said.

Bellingham police said in a statement that Licciardi and Monteiro, as well as at least two other men who have not been identified by police, regularly stole from retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, then resold the items on second-hand websites.

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Police said they executed five search warrants from both Bellingham and Weymouth in the homes of Monteiro and Licciardi, as well as three vehicles. They recovered “tens of thousands of dollars” in merchandise and thousands in cash. Police said Home Depot’s investigation shows that the loss from thefts attributed to the men is hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The suspected profits and vehicles associated with the thefts were seized by police pending civil forfeiture. Police said additional charges may be forthcoming.

Connolly said the two suspects are due back in court on April 13.

Laney Ruckstuhl can be reached at laney.ruckstuhl@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @laneyruckstuhl.

Source

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/09/men-charged-with-stealing-more-than-products-from-home-improvement-stores/GBVrSuxVa36h0weXC2b5aN/story.html

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