CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Authorities are looking for two suspects who’ve attempted to steal merchandise from Home Depot stores in Reno, Sparks and Carson City in recent days by placing higher-valued goods inside the boxes of lower-priced items.
The Carson City Sheriff’s office says the practice is known as “box stuffing.”
Deputies were called to the Carson City Home Depot about 6 p.m. Tuesday when employees observed two suspects attempting to make such a switch. They say the same suspects had been identified in an attempted theft at the Spanish Springs Home Depot in Sparks earlier that day and at one in Reno last Sunday.
In Carson City, the suspects placed a large amount of power tools inside a bathtub box, paid for the bathtub and exited the store. They tied the box on the roof of a dark-colored, unlicensed Ford Escape and began driving away as patrol units approached.
The bathtub box fell off when they swerved and deputies gave chase but but ended the pursuit when it reached unsafe speeds, the sheriff said.
Secret Witness is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
Anyone with information should contact the Carson City sheriff’s department (775-283-7855) or Secret Witness (775-322-4900).
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