Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with a massive theft ring involving more than $800,000 worth of smoke detectors stolen from Home Depot stores across Florida, authorities said.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier held a news conference Tuesday to announce the arrests following a months-long investigation by Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement.

Investigators discovered at least 44 smoke detector thefts at Home Depot stores in 17 Florida counties including Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and elsewhere.

Home Depot estimated the losses at over $800,000, Uthmeier said.

Around $78,000 worth of stolen merchandise was found at a storage unit in Hillsborough County, and another $300,000 worth of products tied to the theft ri

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