Authorities arrested five men in connection with a construction material theft ring that stole thousands of dollars from area contractors, officials said.
The arrests followed an investigation dubbed “Operation Rooftop” that involved 11 law enforcement agencies and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Multiple construction sites targeted
Law enforcement officers busted the ring Wednesday morning while executing search warrants at three units of an apartment complex in the 6000 block of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Atlanta and a house in the 3000 block of McElroy Road in Atlanta, the release said. Officers took the suspects into custody at those locations early Wednesday morning.
Jose Amaya Martinez, 27; Juan Adrian Torres Tello, 30; Gabriel Amaya Zalasar, 30; Margarito Amaya Zalasar, 20; and Miguel Amaya Zalasar, 24, all face felony theft and conspiracy charges, the
According to the initial investigation that began in June, the theft ring targeted large commercial construction sites, stealing roofing materials, including various types of membranes.
Investigation ongoing
According to the latest figures, investigators say members of the ring have made off with approximately $500,000 worth of materials.
The Hall County and Pickens County Sheriff’s Offices coordinated and carried out “Operation Rooftop” with sheriff’s offices in Banks, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Jackson Counties, as well as police departments in Brookhaven, Cartersville, Dunwoody, and Flowery Branch and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation remains active. Authorities believe there may be unreported theft incidents similar to those being investigated. Anyone with information can contact Hall County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Buffington at (770) 297-4695.
