SILVER SPRING, Md. -- A Silver Spring man has been accused of purchasing computers from Maryland Best Buy stores, removing the internal parts and returning them for refunds.

Police said Joseph Denice, 27, bought computers using his credit card from stores in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville and Wheaton and then returned the machines after removing the insides.

Investigators said Denice sold the parts over the Internet.

Best Buy employees, who did not know the computers were "empty," returned them to shelves, and they were purchased by unsuspecting consumers, police said.

When the customers returned the computers, Best Buy employees sent them back to the manufacturer.

The estimated loss is more than $100,000, police said.

Investigators said Denice did not try to conceal his identity during purchases or returns.

Denice has been charged with six counts of felony theft and one count of felony theft scheme.