Man Arrested For Theft After Deal With Undercover Officer: PD

GERMANTOWN, MD — Authorities say they've arrested a Germantown man who knowingly purchased stolen property and sold them for a profit.

An investigation into 43-year-old Ricardo Aparicio began after retailers — like Target and Safeway — told police that shoplifting suspects were selling stolen products to a home in Germantown. Montgomery County police said they determined the exact location of the residence and identified Aparicio as the suspect.

On several occasions, an undercover officer met with Aparicio and sold him merchandise that he said was stolen, according to police. During those interactions, Aparicio reportedly told the officer what merchandise he was looking to buy from him and offered tips on how to successfully steal the items.

Authorities said they arrested Aparicio at his home on Tuesday, where they found about $5,000 worth of merchandise. Investigators are working to determine which of those products were stolen, they said.