Two arrested in Danville Lowe’s theft scheme

DANVILLE, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Two Washington state residents are behind bars in Boyle County after police say they carried out a theft at Lowe’s in Danville using distraction and “quick change” techniques.

Danville Police said the suspects — identified as 44-year-old Vandana Horbas and 41-year-old Ioca Horbas, both of Kent, Washington — attempted to purchase about $2,800 worth of merchandise Monday evening. During the transaction, investigators said the suspects used distraction methods to complete the purchase for only $1,600 before fleeing the store in an Audi SUV with Texas plates.

Danville officers quickly located and stopped the vehicle. Inside, police said they recovered thousands of dollars in cash and Lowe’s merchandise. Investigators also learned the pair are suspected of carrying out similar scams at multiple Lowe’s locations across Kentucky and Tennessee.

Both Vandana and Ioca Horbas were arrested and booked into the Boyle County Detention Center on felony theft charges. The investigation is ongoing, and Danville Police are asking other agencies with similar cases to contact Detective A.J. Mullins at 859-238-1220.