ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT SUSPECT ARRESTED: Responsible for nearly $2 million loss at Home Depot

Mesa police officers arrested 39-year-old Juan Ambriz-Rincon after he spent more than a year stealing from The Home Depot stores across the valley and creating a total loss of no less than $46,000 just in Arizona. Ambriz-Rincon is also the suspect in Organized Retail Thefts in Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, where The Home Depot investigators have documented more than $900,000 worth of product loss, with an estimation closer to $2,000,000 over the last three years.

With the help of The Home Depot investigators, video evidence, and transaction receipts, officers were able to positively identify Ambriz-Rincon in 14 different thefts from the retail store between October 10, 2022- October 16, 2023. The thefts occurred through Mesa, Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, and Avondale.

Utilizing the self-checkout option, Ambriz-Rincon paid for a few items in his possession but failed to pay for the high dollar items in his cart. He would then return the stolen items for money or sell them to customers through social media in various states. Ambriz-Rincon also thwarted employees by presenting fake receipts at check out and telling them the items were already paid for before walking out with the stolen merchandise.

In one incident, Ambriz-Rincon was stopped by Asset Protection just outside The Home Depot. He had presented an invalid will call order at the register. The store was able to recover 20 units of unpaid shingles, but Ambriz-Rincon fled the scene before police arrived.

Officers were able to obtain search warrants for Ambriz-Rincon’s vehicles, storage units, and motel room, leading them to recover additional stolen items and further evidence of his crimes.

“Organized Retail Crime continues to impact The Home Depot. Public and private collaboration like our investigators have with The Mesa Police Department are a key component of combating these crimes. We appreciate Mesa PD’s partnership in helping keep our customers and employees safe.” -Sean Browne, Sr Manager, Organized Retail Crime at The Home Depot.

Juan Ambriz-Rincon was booked into jail for the following charges:

ARS 13-2310- Fraudulent Schemes, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-2307B- Trafficking Stolen Property, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1802A1 (14 counts)- Theft over $25,000, a class 2 felony

ARS 13-1819A1 (14 counts)- Organized Retail Theft, a class 4 felony

ARS 13-3407A1- Possession of Dangerous Drugs, a class 4 felony

Juan Ambriz-Rincon