Authorities investigate series of Home Depot thefts

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An aggressive group is stealing from local Home Depot stores, and in one, an employee was punched, authorities said.

There have been reports of at least half a dozen cases across the area, including the store near the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

The group is known to steal several shopping carts worth of tools in as little as eight minutes.

"Yes, it's kind of scary,” shopper Benita Jackson said. “I wonder when can you go without being attacked."

That crime spree started four to five weeks ago, but in the last 72 hours, the group has robbed the Matthews store on Wednesday, a Gastonia store and a Lancaster store Thursday.

The employee who got punched was working at the Home Depot in Lancaster.

"It's disheartening,” shopper Lyn Jenkins said. “It's like every day, it's something new in your neighborhood. It's just crazy to think that people would rob the place."

A spokesperson with Home Depot said the retailer is working with authorities.

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