The alleged theft ring is responsible for more than 600 thefts at Home Depots in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's office.
The investigation began in February when Home Depot contacted the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to report the string of robberies at their stores.
"From there, the investigation began in earnest, in diligence and in cooperation between prosecutors, detectives and investigators. This is a complex and extensive investigation," said Ventura County District Attorney says Erik Nasarenko during a news conference Tuesday.
Darlene Hermosillo, who works for Home Depot investigations, said "organized retail crime is theft motivated by greed not necessity, and it's fueling broader criminal activity."
Investigators say the theft ring was led by David Ahl, and he allegedly ran it out of his business in the San Fernando Valley.
Home Depot provided the surveillance video of some of the members of the theft ring stealing expensive electronics equipment and other items.
Investigators say they would then sell the stolen merchandise online or to contractors. After months of detective work, the fourteen suspects were arrested on Aug. 14.
"I was pretty blown away by how brazen, how many different occasions they would go out and commit crimes... so it was logistically a challenge to keep up with that. It could have only been accomplished because of the task force," said Detective Kevin Alldredge, who worked on the investigation.
If convicted on all 48 counts he faces, Ahl could be sentenced to just over 32 years in state prison.