Mid-Michigan man accused of hiring ‘drug-dependent acquaintances’ to steal from Home Depot and Lowe’s stores

LANSING (WWJ) — A Lansing man has been charged with running a crime ring that targeted home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot by “employing drug-dependent acquaintances to steal” for him.

Eric Tanner, 38, was arraigned Wednesday on eight counts of organized retail crime and one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

The AG’s office says Tanner targeted Lansing-area stores between May 2023 and January 2024. The crime ring allegedly targeted Home Depot locations in Lansing, Jackson and Okemos, as well as a Kroger and a Lowe’s in Lansing.

He allegedly hired drug addicts to steal merchandise — most commonly power tools and vacuums — that would then be sold on Facebook Marketplace.

“We often see the characteristics evident in this case — multiple theft perpetrators, brazen daytime thefts, turning merchandise over to a single operator who then sells the loot for profit,” Nessel said, per a press release.

Tanner’s next court date is scheduled for April 8.

The case was investigated by the AG’s FORCE Team and Organized Retail Crime Unit, which were established last year to combat thefts and financial crimes at various corporate stores.