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Clockwise from top left: Nathaniel Bernal, Jesse Mendez, Reuben Odahlen, Tranquilino Garcia

Police: Target Workers Steal $30K In iPods

POSTED: 10:25 am MST January 17, 2008
UPDATED: 3:17 pm MST January 17, 2008

Four Target employees were arrested Tuesday, accused of stealing $30,000 worth of iPods from a regional distribution center in Phoenix.

Phoenix police said Target officials contacted them on Jan. 11 to report the missing merchandise.

Investigators determined that four men who worked on the loading docks at the distribution center were smuggling the iPods from the docks, according to police.

Jesse Mendez, 19, Nathaniel Bernal, 21, Tranquilino Garcia, 22, and Reuben Odahlen, 27, were each arrested on one count of felony theft and one count of trafficking stolen property.

Police said such crimes are becoming more prevalent because the Internet offers ample opportunities for thieves to sell stolen property.

A Target representative said in an e-mail statement that the company was "extremely disappointed to hear of the situation."

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