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Hialeah, FL - Authorities have arrested a suspect accused of repeatedly stealing power tools from Home Depot stores across Hialeah and Hialeah Gardens in an alleged eight-day crime spree.
The 33-year-old suspect was taken into custody on March 14, facing multiple charges, including theft, dealing in stolen property, and providing false verification of ownership, according to police records.
The investigation was initiated after a Home Depot organized retail crime investigator flagged a pattern of thefts targeting their stores.
The suspect was identified, and police linked him to a grey 2021 Hyundai Elantra, which was allegedly used in the crimes.
- According to police, a timeline of the thefts are as follows:
March 7: The suspect allegedly entered the Home Depot at 950 Southeast 12th Street in Hialeah and left with two grinders worth $328 without making a purchase. - March 8: The suspect reportedly returned to the same store, this time stealing two grinders and a heat gun valued at $417.
- Later on March 8: At the Home Depot in Hialeah Gardens, the suspect is accused of taking two drills and a hammer drill worth a total of $447.
- March 9: Another alleged theft at the Hialeah Gardens location resulted in the suspect taking a drill, an impact wrench, and a circular saw valued at $597.
- March 10: The suspect reportedly stole two hammer drills and a circular saw worth $567 from the same store.
- March 11: Authorities say the suspect returned to the Southeast 12th Street location in Hialeah, taking a rotary hammer, a nailer, and two hammer drills, with an estimated value of $756.
- March 12: Back at the Hialeah Gardens store, the suspect allegedly took an angle grinder circular saw, a worm drive, and another circular saw worth $589.
- March 13: Investigators claim the suspect stole three angle grinders and a hammer drill, totaling $586, from the same Home Depot location.
On March 14th, Home Depot’s retail crime investigator spotted the suspect’s vehicle parked outside the Southeast 12th Street store in Hialeah.
Police say the suspect entered the store, loaded a cart with a nailer, a jigsaw, an angle grinder, and a rad kit worth $996, and attempted to leave without paying.
As he pushed the cart toward his car, detectives moved in and took him into custody.
A background check revealed that the suspect had made seven pawn shop transactions in Hialeah, allegedly claiming ownership of the stolen items.
Following his arrest, he was booked into jail.
