Employee theft ring busted

A Home Depot employee in Allentown, Pa., has been arrested on conspiracy charges in connection to an alleged theft ring involving several of his co-workers. The Morning Call newspaper reported that Josh Daniel Cole, age 23, admitted to stealing several thousand dollars worth of wooden doors, special order windows and roofing supplies, some of which were sold to customers in the store’s parking lot.

According to court records, the investigation began when Cole was spotted on a video surveillance camera pushing a cart full of construction materials out of the store. A Home Depot asset protection manager called police, and under questioning, Cole said that he, two other employees and a former store manager had been stealing and then selling store merchandise to contractors, pocketing 25% to 50% of the retail value.

In many instances the employees were told what to take, court records said, and the list included “anything and everything.” Sometimes they loaded the items into a rental truck in the parking lot. The theft ring is believed to have operated for nearly four years.

Cole was charged with theft, retail theft and conspiracy to commit theft and is free after posting $25,000 bail, according to the Morning Call. Other arrests are expected in the case.