Incidents at Home Depot in Southeast Lead to Shoplifting Charge

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Patterson woman on a charge of petty larceny.

At 1:33 p.m. Feb. 19, Deputy Sheriff Alexander Ruhe responded to a report of a larceny at the Home Depot in Southeast.

A store detective there reported that he saw a female customer take several items of merchandise, place them in a bag, and then proceed to make a return transaction as if she were returning merchandise that was previously purchased. Upon completion of that transaction, the woman then reportedly proceeded to make a purchase of items at a “self-check- out” register and attempted to conceal an item of merchandise in an attempt to avoid paying for it.

Based upon the store employee’s complaint, Deputy Ruhe charged the customer, Heather G. Licari, of 472 Fair Street in Patterson, with petit larceny. The 38-year-old was booked at the Sheriff’s Office and released on her own recognizance pending a future appearance in the Town of Southeast Justice Court. If found guilty of the class A misdemeanor charge, she could be subject to a sentence of up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.