2 Accused of Elaborate Calculator Theft Scheme

Police in Utah say they’ve arrested two people accused of an elaborate scheme to steal expensive graphing calculators.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports police caught on to the operation when the manager of a Salt Lake City Rodeway Inn hotel called them Aug. 13 and reported finding boxes full of calculators in a room.

Court documents say the duo stole the devices from Wal-Mart stores in Tooele, Harrisville, Ogden and Carson City, Nev., by hiding them in the boxes of larger but cheaper items they bought.

Authorities say police found at least 108 stolen calculators, which sell for about $130, in the hotel room. Officials estimate the pair stole about $15,000 in merchandise.

Salt Lake City Detective Veronica Montoya says it appears the pair was selling the devices out of state.