ROME, Ga. Feb 22, 2022 — Cartersville police and Floyd County police said they have thwarted a man’s scheme to sell stolen merchandise at a local store.

Police made an arrest at the Home Depot in Cartersville and found evidence that pointed to stolen items in Floyd County.

Floyd County investigators learned that these stolen goods were being sold at West Rome Trading Company on Shorter Avenue.

Police arrested the store owner, 42-year-old Earl Lamar Renfroe Jr., and charged him with theft by receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit a theft.

For more than 20 hours, investigators and loss prevention officers from several stores combed through evidence to determine what property could be recovered.

So far, officers have found that $87,057 in property was stolen from Home Depot, Walmart, Academy Sports, Lowe’s and Dunham’s Sport.

They recovered 84 baseball bats valued at $23,063, tools, cameras, lawn equipment, GPS equipment, televisions, toothbrushes and maternity supplies.

Investigators also say that it is very likely that some of the other merchandise in the store was traded from other crimes in the area.

Police say that while the investigation is still in its early stages, they believe the merchandise was being sold in the storefront and online.

Renfroe is currently being held in jail without bond on charges in several jurisdictions.

Georgia lawmakers are looking at ways to stop illegal online sales of stolen and counterfeit items. A bill introduced this legislative session would make online sellers reveal who they are and not sell things anonymously.

The “Inform Consumers Act” would require third-party, high-volume sellers to provide accurate information like name, address and prevents them from being anonymous. The act also gives consumers some civil recourse if they feel they’ve unintentionally purchased stolen or counterfeit goods.

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