After police said that two males from Surprise were part of an organised retail theft ring that stole over $34,000 worth of goods from establishments in the Phoenix region, they are now facing over 30 charges.
Around seven in the morning on Wednesday, Steven John Velder and Ryan Dale Slocum were taken into custody.
Probiotics, allergy medication, electric trimmers, electric razors, vacuums, hygiene and health products, Crest white strips, Lego sets, and more are among the items Slocum would typically purchase from stores like Target, Kohl’s, CVS, and others, according to court filings. Then, without paying, he would go through an emergency escape or fire door and leave in his adjacent parked Chevy Impala.
According to the police, he then gives it to Velder, his “fence,” who makes money off of the stolen goods. According to court filings, Velder used a number of eBay accounts to accomplish this.
Slocum was implicated by investigators in 19 thefts at Fry’s, six at Walmart, five at Kohl’s, four heists at Walgreens, three robberies at Target, and two at CVS. The crimes took place in Surprise, Peoria, Phoenix, Sun City, Goodyear, Avondale, and Glendale between September 30, 2024, and at least April 3. Detectives say they are looking into other thefts that may have been connected to Slocum.
When detectives checked eBay, they discovered that Velder was selling 400 things that had been reported stolen from different retailers in the Phoenix region. They were being offered for sale for around half of their current retail price.
Police claimed to have witnessed Velder transporting cartons of goods to the post office and Slocum bringing the pilfered goods to his house during the course of the inquiry. Over the course of six months, he reportedly sent close to 2,700 packages. The two were within seven miles of one another.
Slocum and Velder were arrested after police searched their houses and vehicles on Wednesday. More than $32,000 worth of items was found, according to the officers.
Velder is also charged with trafficking in the identity of another person or entity, and they are both charged with 31 counts of organised retail theft. Velder’s bond is $30,000, cash-only, while Slocum’s was set at $15,000.