2 Arrested in Huge Internal Theft Ring at Home Depot: PD

By RICH SCINTO (Patch Staff)

MONROE, CT — Police have made two arrests in an employee theft ring at Home Depot that may have stole $300,000, according to one store manager.

Trumbull Police began investigating in October after they were contacted by an asset protection manager at Home Depot concerning possible internal employee theft ring, police said.

Police conducted an investigation that involved the review of security camera video, records from pawn shops and interviews. They learned that employees that worked on the overnight shift would put tools in a cart, bring it out to the garden section and place the tools in a conspirator's car, police said.

The conspiracy occurred between January and October of 2015. The exact value of stolen items isn't known, but one manager at the store estimated it at $300,000.

Items were typically pawned at local shops or sold online via Facebook groups advertising the tools as tag sale merchandise.

Police obtained seven arrest warrants for members of the alleged ring. Santiago Gonzalez, 22, of Bridgeport and Jerel Santamaria, 21, of Monroe were picked up by Bridgeport and Monroe police departments during unrelated incidents over the weekend.

They were then handed over to Trumbull Police to serve the warrant.

Gonzalez allegedly stole $5,290 worth of tools in one night, police said. He was charged with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny.

Santamaria was charged with sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny.

Police still have five outstanding warrants for other members of the alleged ring.