Police are asking for the public help in identifying two suspects caught on surveillance camera stealing nearly $3,000 in wire from a local Home Depot store in a brazen act of theft that culminated in one of the men threatening an employee with a knife.
The incident played out shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, when Toms River officers were dispatched to the Home Depot on Route 9, regarding a male shoplifting a large amount of wire, according to police spokeswoman Jillian Messina
The suspect used bolt cutters to cut the lock securing the wire behind metal cages and removed 27 rolls of 12-2 wire, worth a total of $2,916. When approached by an employee, the suspect “removed a utility knife from his pocket and threatened the employee,” said Messina.
He and an associate were subsequently seen loading the wire into a white Chevy Impala and leaving the area. According to police, the registered vehicle owner, who does not match the description of the suspects, claims to have sold the vehicle at a gas station in Delaware prior to the robbery.
Toms River police are asking for any information on the suspects pictured in this story. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Detective Bureau at jmastronardy@trpolice.org or by calling 732-349-0150, ext. 1346. All information will remain confidential, police said.