Florida Authorities Bust $800K Home Depot Smoke Detector Theft Ring Across 17 Counties

Florida authorities have dismantled a multi-county criminal ring responsible for stealing over $800,000 worth of smoke detectors from Home Depot stores across 17 counties. Seven suspects face felony charges including conspiracy to commit racketeering and organized retail theft, stemming from at least 44 theft incidents. Investigations revealed a trafficking network moving stolen smoke detectors through a Hillsborough County storage unit, where $78,000 worth of goods were recovered, to a large warehouse in Houston, Texas, with an additional $300,000 worth seized by Houston police. Attorney General James Uthmeier highlighted Florida's commitment to keeping merchandise accessible without locked displays, contrasting with other states, while Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized Florida's tough stance on organized retail theft amid weakening laws elsewhere. Officials underscored the dangers such thefts pose to public safety, as smoke detectors are vital for home fire protection, and warned consumers ultimately bear the cost of these crimes. The coordinated scheme was described as a sophisticated, multi-state criminal enterprise, prompting a months-long investigation by Florida's Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement and Statewide Prosecution office.