TJ Maxx, Dallas Co. DA Bust Major Theft Ring

Investigators with the Dallas County District Attorney's office joined up with the parent company of TJ Maxx to break-up a major theft ring.

Seventeen people have been indicted in the case, accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the TJX Companies which owns TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods.

The group would then return the stolen merchandise for gift cards which they would sell on websites like Ebay, Craigslist and even Facebook.

The arrests were the result of a year-long investigation between the DA's office and the retailer.

"We all know we're in a down economy, and we know people aren't spending as much as they used to as consumers," says Chief Investigator, Tony Robinson. "For a major retail corporation to take this kind of loss, we're talking in excess of $400,000 that we know of, it's a major impact on a corporation's bottom line."

The investigator described the group as highly organized and said they may soon have expanded their operations to other parts of the state or country.