CRANBERRY TWP — Police have charged 20 people suspected of engaging in organized retail theft at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in five counties, including sites in Cranberry and Butler townships.

Cranberry Township Detective Matt Irvin helped identify each suspect in the case. Some of those, but not all, have been arrested.

The thefts, which occurred between Feb. 9 and April 15, netted the suspects about $27,000.

According to police reports, the suspects would enter a Lowe’s store and steal smaller, expensive items like tools or electrical hardware.

Then other suspects would go to a different Lowe’s and return the stolen goods. Lowe’s company policy is to issue a credit card when merchandise is returned without a receipt.

The credit cards, which can only be used in Lowe’s stores, carry an equal balance to the amount of merchandise returned.

The suspects would sell those credit cards at pawn shops for a fraction of the face value. Police tracked some of those cards and found them used in states such as Illinois, California, Tennessee and North Carolina.

According to police, almost all of the merchandise was returned to the stores in Cranberry and Butler townships.

Cranberry Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said Friday that the 20 suspects have been charged with corrupt organizations, a charge that can carry extended penalties.

“Corrupt organizations shows an organized pattern of retail theft created by this group,” he said. “Both the number of people involved and the dollar amount, and the fact they were active for a few months, led to the charge. $27,000 is a significant amount, even to a large corporation like Lowe’s.”

Almost all of the suspects are from Beaver County. None are from Butler County.

Those charged are: James Yancey Bienick of Beaver, Michael Andrew Deal of Rochester, John Joseph Deem of Industry, Ryan David Fisher of Rochester, Nicki Leigh Meckling of Ambridge, Kristopher Chad Pander of Aliquippa, Janice Lynn Cercone of New Brighton, Samantha Jane Chero of Kittanning, Eric James Reed of Monaca, Michael Lee Schmidt of Beaver, Markus Anthony Stanley of Columbus, Ohio, Paul Douglas White of Ambridge, Tammy Lynn Wright of Rochester, Corey Christopher Strano of Ellwood City, Azaria Simone Davis of Monaca, Linda Jean Payne of New Brighton, Tricia Marie O’Neal of Beaver Falls, Jason Lee Petrella of New Brighton, Shevan Marrie Williams of Aliquippa and John Matthew Deem of Industry.

All are charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, organized retail theft, access device fraud, retail theft, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

The suspects allegedly hit Lowe’s stores in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.