More than $9 million in goods stolen from Home Depot, CVS, others sold at flea markets; 3 charged
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —July 20 2018
Two men and a woman are accused of fencing millions of dollars’ worth of goods stolen from Upstate stores for resale at flea markets.
Anderson County deputies, working with several retail crime investigators, say they determined in June that shoplifters were stealing large amounts of merchandise from various stores in Anderson, including Home Depot, CVS, T.J. Maxx, Belk and Publix.
The shoplifters would then sell the merchandise for a fraction of the retail value to other people who acted as fences. The fences would resell the merchandise at flea markets for profit.
Investigators estimate that retailers lost $9 million to $12 million to the fencing operation over a five-year period.
Investigators identified Troy Fowler, 75, of Piedmont, and William “Billy” O’Leary, 44, and Peggy O’Leary, 41, both of Anderson, as suspected fences in the operation.
On July 12, investigators searched properties belonging to the O’Learys and Fowler. They recovered an estimated $121,997 in stolen merchandise was recovered from both locations.
Detectives also recovered a four-wheeler that had been reported from Abbeville County.
The O’Learys and Fowler were arrested and charged with organized retail theft.
WYFF
