EDINBURGH, Ind. — Two Indianapolis men are accused of stealing hundreds of car batteries at several area Walmart stores. The Edinburgh police chief believes the crime spans all the way to Miami, Florida.
"That's a lot of weight, first of all," Edinburgh Police Chief Doyne Little said.
Edinburgh police took photos of the haul — hundreds of new and used batteries piled into a truck bed and a U-Haul trailer, which was reported stolen in Murphreesboro, Tennessee, by the same suspects.
Little said the men loaded the heavy batteries from Walmart stores during the early morning hours.
Police said the suspects were going to sell them at a shop, located just blocks away from the Edinburgh Police Department, before officers caught them July 31.
"When you see batteries on the top where the battery posts are and the plastic's still there – if you've ever had to change a battery – you know that's a brand-new battery. Why would you be selling those unless they were stolen?" Little said.
Inside, officers found evidence that linked them to a Walmart in Miami, Florida, just 24 hours prior — stealing approximately 240 car batteries from that store.
"They had just taken the report with absolutely no leads. Then, there's some Indiana cop calling, 'I got your suspects right here with your batteries.' So, it was one of those one-in-a-million calls that you're like, 'I can't believe this just happened,'" Little said.
Police in Westfield, Fishers, Greenwood and Ohio are investigating the same type of theft earlier in July.
Little said a recent Indiana law restricting catalytic converter sales deters criminals.
"Unfortunately, that just opened it up to another precious metal, which is batteries, rims, any type of wire," Little said.
This investigation began earlier this summer when criminals were stealing batteries from campers. Police remind the public to make sure the closures are secure and to check campers during the off-season.
Each battery is worth about $10.
Edinburgh sent a letter to other agencies and suspect more leads from more Walmart thefts around the country.
Police arrested a 46-year-old man for auto theft of the U-Haul trailer and transported him to the Johnson County Jail.
According to police, the 59-year-old suspect was released, pending charges from the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects until formal charges are filed by prosecutors.)