Man Wanted for Shoplifting at Home Depot Eluded Watertown and State Police

A man who tried to shoplift at Home Depot on Aug. 19 at 3:57 p.m. ran away from security before police arrived and eluded search efforts by Watertown and State police.

Home Depot security spotted a man in his 40s switch the price tag on a $279 Makita LXT Hammer Drill with an item tha has a pricetag of $6.43 and went to the self-checkout aisle to pay for it, said Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady. Security spotted him and asked to talk to him.

“Security was escorting the man back to the office and he got up and pushed past two security guards and fled the store,” Grady said. “He ran across the bridge (on Arsenal Street) into Brighton before he could be apprehended.”

Watertown Police called in assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, but the suspect could not be found.

Police could not identify the man, but the merchandise was recovered, Grady said.