COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – A Coconut Creek couple was arrested after authorities discovered a garage filled with thousands of dollars' worth of stolen toys that they sold online, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.
Deputies on Wednesday removed box after box filled with the stolen items from the couple's home in the 6000 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue.
BSO spokeswoman Gina Carter said the merchandise was sorted in the garage to be sold to the highest bidder.
"They actually have a false wall built into their garage, and it's basically like a makeshift stock department," Carter said. "They have it stocked floor to ceilings with all kinds of different action figures and Lego sets."
Deputies arrested Krishna Ramotar, 43, and Sela Mafi, 34.
Carter said the couple printed bogus bar codes at home and used them to change the prices of the toys in retail stores throughout Broward County.
"They would hit the same stores several times, hit all the stores that they could in that area, buying all these items, buying multiples of the same item (and) turning around and selling those for a great profit," Carter said.
For nearly a year, detectives tracked the couple as they listed about $60,000 in stolen toys online, Carter said.
Ramotar and Mafi face charges of dealing in stolen property and grand theft.
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