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If you're a builder, the place to go was the Silve Trading Post. Where sheets of plywood were stacked over your head, where they had doors and windows by the hundreds. Along with roofing materials, Hardie siding.

Anything you needed, they had.

It was called the Little Home Depot.

“It's a resale place, I understand. But, uh, there's sure a lot of traffic. Lot of traffic,” said one of the trading post’s neighbors who asked not to be identified.

Wednesday morning, police busted what they believe may be the biggest dealer in Houston's black-market of building supplies.

11 News

Early in the morning, Silve is buying.  

“Trucks show up there loaded with shingles, plyboards,” said the neighbor.

It's been more than a year since the owner Bernie Gonzalez told 11 News it was all legit.

When asked how she knows if the materials they're selling are stolen or not?

“Because they told me they're leftovers, she insisted.

Investigators heard the same story Wednesday from Irma Lopez who owns an entire corner of Henry Street.

Police had busted the place before and suspected again.

With Houston's housing market, continuing to grow so has the black-market in construction supplies.

Houston police worked months, putting together this first major operation aimed at the black market. 

Eventually, police investigators discovered there was another second layer to this.

Thieves would first steal vans, or pick-up trucks or SUVs. Then they'd drive those to go steal the building supplies.

Wednesday, police carted off a truckload of thousand-dollar windows.

Some still had stickers on them, not from the Little Home Depot, but the real Home Depot.