Theft Ring Run by Philly Brothers Broken Up, Mont Co DA Says

Two brothers were charged in what prosecutors are calling an organized retail theft ring based out of Philadelphia.  

Cuong Nam Ly and Chung Nam Ly are accused of running a theft ring targeting several Home Depot and Lowes stores in multiple counties including Bucks and are charged with over 200 theft related felonies. 

The brothers allegedly would buy merchandise online, then return the product with a higher priced UPC code and pocket the difference.

According to police, the brothers would buy other products, return the products without the battery or charger or be altered in some way. The batteries and/or chargers were then sold on Facebook Marketplace.

The brothers allegedly netted more than $200,000, the authorities said. 

Search warrants for two locations being utilized by the organized retail theft ring produced numerous power tools and batteries for power tools including DeWalt power tools, NOCO jump starters and Vector jump starters, which already had the UPC barcode switched to show the item as being the higher-priced NOCO jump starters.

Credit: Mont Co DA’s office

“These two defendants were operating a high-volume organized retail theft ring that caused the targeted businesses to suffer significant losses, both through the thefts themselves and through the loss of customers who bought stolen merchandise from the defendants via online marketplaces,” said DA Steele. “We are focused on organized retail theft rings as these criminal activities are a significant loss for any business to withstand on an ongoing basis.”

The brothers were arrested were arraigned on more than 200 felony counts of operating a corrupt organization, conspiracy, retail theft, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, organized retail theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and related offenses. The defendants were arraigned earlier this week by Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine, who set bail at $75,000 unsecured, with the condition against trespasses on Lowes or Home Depot properties. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m., Oct. 13, 2023, before Magisterial District Judge Paul Leo.