WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)—Police say two people were arrested for a multi-state retail theft scheme after stealing over $9,000 worth of items from Home Depot and Target.
According to the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, on January 21 officers were called for two separate thefts at Home Depot totaling $4,248.21.
Police said a woman, later identified as Jamie Blake, 36, of Vermont, filled a cart with various tools and left the store without paying for them. On the same day a man, later identified as Joseph Badore, 41, of Vermont, was seen walking with a car full of tools, and when asked if he had a receipt for the items he continued to walk out of the store.
Then in Wilkes-Barre Township police reported a $5,000 retail theft at Target where the suspects matched the description of the Home Depot theft.
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Through further investigation, the suspects were discovered to be involved in multiple retail thefts throughout eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In each incident, the suspects got into a grey minivan with a Tennessee license plate.
On January 26 Wisconsin County Sheriffs pulled over the suspect's vehicle after a chase ensued. Inside the car police said they found various tools and vacuums that were stolen from Home Depot and Target.
Blake and Badore have been charged with organized retail theft and other related offenses.
