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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS -- The people accused of ripping off Home Depot stores are now suspected of running an even bigger fraud.
At one time police thought the group may have taken as much as a half million dollars from Home Depots in several Western states. Now they think that number is growing, a lot.
Officer Beau Babka said, "In the LA basin area, we've been told that $300,000-$400,000 just in water heaters have been fraudulently taken."
Babka says a lot of police agencies are interested in talking with the group, which was arrested in Cottonwood Heights last week.
Police say they seized more than $5,000 in gift cards and some items that had been taken out of a store off of 7800 South and 1300 East.
Authorities say they used counterfeit receipts, real store receipts and gift cards in their multi-state scheme.
Local charges could be filed by the end of the week.
The suspects remain on an extended hold at the Salt Lake County Jail.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
