Auburn police looking for help in identifying video game theft suspects

AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) - Update, Thursday Sept. 27: Auburn Police Department Detective Stacy Sexton told NewsChannel 15 on Thursday the two suspects in the surveillance images had been identified. The two men live in Fort Wayne but their identities have not yet been released.

As of Thursday, they had not yet been arrested, but WANE was told their arrests were forthcoming.

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After a two-month investigation, the Auburn Police Department is looking for help in identifying the "Diablo Suspects."  Police said the pair has stolen more than $12,000 in video games at more than 20 Walmarts in Indiana and Ohio.

Photo Gallery: "Diablo Suspects" caught on camera

Detective Stacy Sexton, with the Auburn Police Department, said they do not have any names, but believe the two are from northeast Indiana.  The string of thefts began in July when the pair stole games from the Walmart in Columbia City.

"What these guys are taking is a PC game called Diablo III," Sexton said.  "Normally these are kept on the counter with a security device on it, called Spiderwire.  These guys have obtained a key that we believe came from a Meijer store in Fort Wayne, and are using the key to unlock the Spiderwire at other stores."

Sexton said recently the two men have been stealing Diablo III, along with Microsoft Home and Business software.

"The Walmart people have deemed them the Diablo Suspects," Sexton said.  "Only  because they were stealing the Diablo game."

The packaging to the games and software has been left behind at the stores where games were stolen from.

The most recent theft took place Sunday.  Police believe the men stole from the Auburn Walmart.  They also believe they stole approximately $837 from the Elkhart Walmart on the same day.

Police have little information on the two suspects. 

"Comparing [the thefts], they're the same guy," Sexton said.  "Definitely the same guys."

They found the two leaving a Walmart while driving a black four-door BMW.

"One subject is tall and slender," Sexton said when describing the two men.  "The other is short and stocky.  He's probably anywhere from a foot-and-a-half to two feet shorter than the other guy."

Sexton guessed both men are somewhere between the ages of 20 and 26.

Sexton has been working with security personnel at Walmart.  He said together, they've found the two men have stolen from Walmarts all across Indiana.  The furthest away were from stores around Indianapolis.  The other thefts took place in northeast Indiana, and one happened in Ohio.

Sexton said he was only aware of the thefts at Walmart, but thinks the two men have stolen from other retail stores.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Auburn Police Department at 260-920-3200.