YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Eight people are arrested as part of a burglary ring involving seven Mahoning County communities.

Those arrested and charged in the 30-count indictment handed down by the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office, would allegedly sell their stolen goods to feed their heroin habit.

John Woods, Erin King, Katie Grist and Grant Repasky who authorities say were all from Springfield Township at some point; face numerous burglary charges, along with a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Jamal Vaughn of Youngstown is charged with multiple counts of trafficking in heroin and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Dominic Eckman of Poland is a pawnbroker charged with four counts of receiving stolen property, and a count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Eckman's wife, Leslie Eckman, is charged with a misdemeanor count regarding records and booking as the owner of the pawn business that allegedly accepted the stolen merchandise.

Alexis Norman of Poland also faces a charge of receiving stolen property.

Mahoning Valley's Law Enforcement Task Force uncovered the crime, and followed the money trail of the stolen items that included numerous expensive gold rings and necklaces, flat screen televisions, and other electronic items.

Members of the Task Force say the burglary ring broke-in to at least 16 homes since September of 2011.

Assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor Marty Desmond says, "These officers were able to follow the trail from the burglaries. They had a list of known jewelry that was taken. They were able to trace that jewelry to the precious metals dealers, and then able to trace that money to the drug dealer."

All eight suspects were taken in to custody on Tuesday as part of what's called the "Precious Metals Case."

Police say some members of the group would commit the break-ins, and then sell the stolen jewelry primarily to Dominic Eckman at Leslies Precious Metals on Midlothian Boulevard.

The group would also allegedly exchange other stolen items with Jamal Vaughn for heroin according to members of the Law Enforcement Task Force.

In all, it's estimated there was $20,000 to $30,000 in stolen items.

Chief Brian Goodin of the Poland Township Police Department says, "The drug dealer was taken from Youngstown, but the crimes took place in Poland, and Springfield and Struthers and Girard and Boardman. That affects our citizens, and those people aren't stealing to support their families, to buy new cars, to buy a house. The majority of these people in my career, they're stealing things to support a drug habit."

Authorities say heroin use is a growing problem and it's not just in the city. All but one of the suspects is from the suburbs, and the burglaries make it clear that drugs are not a victimless crime.

"They're coming in to Youngstown a lot of times to traffic it (drugs), but they're going back to (the suburbs) to use it. And unfortunately when they run out, they're looking at their neighbors for the supply of sources of money to continue their usage," said Chief Rod Foley, Youngstown Police Department.

Along with Chief Foley other police chiefs applaud the work of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force Officers saying it would be difficult for one department to find the resources to handle a case of this magnitude.