Man Charged In Home Depot Credit Card Theft After Public ID'd Him: Howell Police

HOWELL, NJ — A Jackson Township man has been arrested in connection with a credit card fraud incident in Howell, thanks to the aid of the public, police said.

In early July, police released information seeking the identity of a man who they said picked up a credit card that was left at the returns counter at the Home Depot on Route 9 on May 5 and then using it.

On Thursday, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said the man, identified as Wolde S. Simon, 43, of Jackson, has been arrested in the incident.

Antunez said Simon is accused in the May 5 of being the man who entered the store moments after the victim left his credit card on the counter. Simon, who had two young children with him, was captured by the store’s surveillance video picking up the credit card, Antunez said. Simon then is accused of using that credit card to fraudulently purchase hundreds of dollars in merchandise, Antunez said.

Simon, who was arrested Wednesday, has been charged with third-degree fraudulent use of a credit card, third-degree forgery and fourth-degree theft of a credit card, Antunez said. He was released pending court.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the many people who called the police department and provided information that led to the suspect’s identification," he said. "This would not have happened without the public’s help."

Photo from Home Depot surveillance provided by Howell Township police