LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock police say a pair of homes and a flea market booth were at the center of an organized retail theft ring. Three people are charged with organized retail theft.
New probable cause affidavits accuse Rebecca James, her grandson Mason Barron, and Ernesto Franco of buying brand-new tools and lawn equipment they were told were stolen from Home Depot.
Undercover buys on Canton Avenue
Detectives say an undercover officer sold thousands of dollars in stolen DeWalt and Milwaukee tools to James and Barron at a house on Canton Avenue. Detectives say James and Barron even asked the officer to steal specific items for them.
Detectives say James and Barron knowingly purchased stolen tools with the intent to resell them at the flea market on Clovis Highway for a profit. James and Barron then took those items to the flea market on Clovis Highway and unknowingly sold them back to the officers.
Separate case on 63rd Street
In a separate case, officers say Franco bought stolen tools out of his home on 63rd Street, telling an undercover officer he “buys everything” and sells it at the flea market. Affidavits estimate thousands of dollars in suspected stolen merchandise.
Police say the arrests followed an investigation by the Crime Suppression Unit. Investigators obtained arrest warrants for Franco, 61, James, 72, and Barron, 30, after undercover officers bought multiple stolen items.
When delivering the arrest and search warrants, police recovered more than $45,000 in stolen tools and electronics, along with 1,000 pieces of clothing with new tags from more than 30 stores.
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