9 city workers charged in theft ring

A group of nine city workers is facing criminal charges as part of a theft ring.

A group of nine city workers is facing criminal charges as part of a theft ring.

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[audio: 091216tmda.mp3]

They worked for the Community Life Improvement Program, an anti-blight program designed to help clean up neighborhoods. Instead, District Attorney Lynne Abraham says, the group broke into homes and left with whatever they wanted.

Abraham: If a window was broken that imperiled anybody in the home or there was a vacant house, they would do that. This was sort of a clean and seal operation that very rapidly became a clean and steal operation.

Abraham says about 25 guns were stolen, and only seven have been recovered. The other stolen items included ammunition, cash, clothing and tools. Abraham says some thefts might not have been discovered yet, and she asked people who think they have been ripped off by the rogue employees to call her office.

Five of the nine are still employed by the city. The four others retired or left for some other reason.