‘Prolific’ retail thief arrested in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reports that its Metro Retail Pawn and Metal Theft Unit has arrested a "prolific retail theft offender."

CSPD said the unit partnered with Home Depot Organized Retail Crime Investigators to investigate and arrest a contractor, Shane Railey of Railey Custom Renovations, who allegedly stole more than $30,000 worth of items from Home Depot in Colorado Springs.

According to CSPD, in May of this year, Railey was stopped while attempting to steal $780 worth of cabinets. He was issued no trespass notices to all Home Depot locations during that incident but continued to return to Home Depot and commit thefts. 

CSPD said its Metro Retail Pawn and Metal Theft Unit partnered with the Home Depot Organized Retail Crime Investigators and determined Railey had been stealing from the hardware store dating back to at least October of 2022.

The department said the investigation revealed that Railey was stealing job materials for various contracting and remodeling jobs and charging the customers the value of materials or sometimes higher. Investigators determined the total value of the items he stole was more than $31,000.

On Aug. 3, detectives located Railey and took him into custody without incident for the charges of theft and money laundering.

CSPD said a mugshot of Railey is currently unavailable.