Salt Lake City — A man was arrested on Monday in connection with a series of thefts from Home Depot stores across Utah, resulting in the recovery of stolen goods valued at over $82,000. Manuel Gonzalez was taken into custody by Utah’s Crimes Against Statewide Economy (CASE) Strike Force and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on multiple theft-related charges.
According to a police affidavit, authorities issued a search warrant for Gonzalez’s motel room and van, where they discovered a substantial cache of Home Depot merchandise, including electrical outlets, circuit breakers, switches, and carbon monoxide detectors. These thefts were part of a larger investigation conducted by the CASE Strike Force, a multi-agency team established to counteract economic crimes impacting Utah’s economy.
Attorney General Sean Reyes highlighted the importance of this effort, stating that his office launched the CASE Strike Force in 2010 to address organized retail crime. “Massive shoplifting organizations were costing retailers and consumers tens of billions annually,” Reyes explained. “Many states have followed our leadership, and we are working together to shut down theft and fraud by unlawful commercial enterprises.”
The recent arrest underscores the broader fight against organized retail crime in Utah and beyond. By disrupting operations like these, authorities aim to protect retailers and consumers from the financial toll that organized theft rings inflict on the economy.