Five people were arrested and one is being sought in connection with numerous thefts at eight north Florida Walmarts in which the shoplifted items were immediately pawned.

Alachua County investigators said nearly 400 items were stolen and pawned over several weeks during the spring and summer.

In late May and early June, investigators began looking into the thefts traced to eight area Walmart stores in Jacksonville, Macclenny, Orange Park, Starke, Gainesville, Ocala, Chiefland and Perry. The retail value of the stolen items is more than $49,000.

The items brought in $11,817.25 from the pawn shops, investigators said. The items included silverware, DVD/Blue-ray players, radios, tools, a bike, a GPS unit, desktop/laptops, TV, fishing equipment, cellphones, iPads/iPods, electronics/accessories, a camera and games.

The following people were arrested on charges of racketeering and scheme to defraud: Tyrone Turner, 19; Earnest Smith, 41; Thalas Smith, 25; Donnie Cooper, 22; and Christal Facey, 21.

IMAGES:  Booking photos of suspects

Essie Cobb, 40, is still being sought.

Investigators said Turner made 191 of the pawns. All of the pawn shops were in Alachua County.