Brazen: Men Used Bolt Cutters to Steal $3K in Wire From Home Depot, Threatened Employee With Knife

Suspects in the robbery of a Home Depot store in Toms River, N.J., Dec. 6, 2023. (Photo: TRPD)

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

Suspects in the robbery of a Home Depot store in Toms River, N.J., Dec. 6, 2023. (Photo: TRPD)

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Suspects in the robbery of a Home Depot store in Toms River, N.J., Dec. 6, 2023. (Photo: TRPD)

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.

Suspect vehicle in the robbery of a Home Depot store in Toms River, N.J., Dec. 6, 2023. (Photo: TRPD)

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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.