Pulaski stores accused of selling stolen items

SOMERSET, Ky. (AP) — Owners and managers at several Pulaski County convenience stores are accused of recruiting shoplifters to bring them stolen items to resell.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports (http://bit.ly/1CVzw7W) grand jury indictments charge ten people with engaging in organized retail crime. Some of the defendants also are charged with food stamp fraud.

According to court documents, at one convenience store, police found items with labels from Kroger, CVS, Dollar General and Kmart.

After police learned of the thefts, they used undercover informants to take items to convenience stores. Employees at five stores bought Pepsi and Coke products and beer they thought were stolen.

In some cases, store employees gave the suspected shoplifters a list of items they wanted them to bring for re-sale. The investigation is ongoing.

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

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