OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A raid of a home in Christian County resulted in the arrest of two Hopkinsville men. Oak Grove Police are describing the investigation an “elaborate scheme” to steal thousands of dollars of merchandise from a big box store.
A digital investigator with Walmart initially tipped off police about a suspicious pattern of orders which prompted an investigation, according to a news release from Oak Grove PD. Detectives discovered that 50-year-old Christopher Sivels and 38-year-old Gerald Thomas had exploited a loophole in the delivery system, allowing them to order products from local supercenters in Hopkinsville and Oak Grove without submitting any sort of payment.
The two men are suspected of obtaining $39,000 worth of merchandise over the span of a year. Some of these items were resold for cash, which police say allowed them to purchase illicit drugs.
A search warrant was executed at their home, resulting in the recovery of some of the stolen items. Both were taken into custody and charged with Theft by Unlawful Taking over $10,000 but under $1,000,000 and Engaging in Organized Crime.
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