Van police bust lumber thieves who were building in Smith County

Tag : building hardware

One by one, Van Police are arresting a group of thieves they saystole thousands of dollars worth of hardware supplies to build ahouse. The hardware store's owner says the thieves have beenstealing from right under her nose for nearly a year. But as KLTV7's Courtney Lane shows us, the only house they'll see for awhilenow is the jailhouse. This afternoon, Van Police arrested the ringleader of a group ofthieves they say stole $40,000 worth of supplies from this hardwarestore.
"I knew I was losing a lot of lumber. I knew it," said SharonHilliard, the store owner.
"They are doing it in broad daylight that's what is ironic in thiscase. They've gotten to where they are so brave," said Chief KellySmith of the Van Police Department.
Here's the kicker - Police they were using the supplies to build anadd-on to one of the suspect's home in Smith County.
"They did a good job on the building of the structure. When we gotout there and saw the plans they had in place, it was evident theywere still in the process of going to steal more," said ChiefSmith.
"I knew it was going somewhere I just couldn't put my finger onwhere," said Hilliard.
Hilliard says she found out two of her own employees were involved.An inside job, pocketing cash for loading up truck-loads of lumber.
"I was stunned, I'm shocked, we know I really haven't got the jistof it yet. I haven't broke down yet," said Hilliard.
Several suspects are already behind bars tonight and police say therest will soon join them.
"The Van Police Department worked really hard and I want them toget all the credit."
Hilliard says business is running as usual. She just has to cut herlosses and move forward.
"I'm hoping that the DAs in Van Zandt County and Smith County willboth see fit to put these guys away because they are chronicthieves," said Hilliard.
Van Police say the suspects will be charged with engaging incriminal activity, a second degree felony, as well as theft of$20,000 to $100,000 dollars.
Courtney Lane, reporting. clane@kltv.com