Three Austin Home Depot employees charged with elaborate scheme to swipe tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise
Austin TX May 10 2019 Three men have been accused of hatching an elaborate scheme to swipe tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from a South Austin Home Depot since the end of 2017.
Cesar Guzman, 19, Edrick Shiloh, 20, and Brent Leigh Don Lira, 21, have all been charged with theft in connection with the operation, arrest records show.
Arrest affidavits filed against the men on Wednesday said both Guzman and Shiloh worked at the Home Depot in the 3600 block of South Interstate 35, near Texas 71, since at least 2017.
A manager at the store received a tip from an employee in November that Guzman and Shiloh had been putting high-value power tools and batteries in lockers for online order pickups.
Store investigators found dozens of orders for items valued at $2 to $3, but Guzman and Shiloh were both seen placing items valued at $400 to $1,000 in the lockers, according to the reports.
Authorities confirmed 25 cases through video footage, including merchandise valued at a total of $15,542. Investigators, however, believe the men may have allowed nearly $30,000 in merchandise to walk out of the store, the documents said.
Investigators found several items posted for sale on Facebook and the Let Go app under the name Brent Lira. Officers also observed Lira pick up several items from the lockers on 17 separate occasions, the affidavits said.
Store officials confronted Guzman and Shiloh, who both admitted to their involvement in the scheme, according to the report.
“This was done by planning ahead and letting friends come in and roll out with pressure washers, welders, generators, and various power tools without rendering payment for the merchandise,” the affidavits said. “Both state it happened during every shift they worked, averaging 12 times a week since December 2017 with an average theft of $900.”
Guzman told investigators he first got started with the thefts when he let a former employee leave the store with a full cart in exchange for $50, the affidavits said.
Shiloh, on the other hand, told authorities he started the operation because he was barely making enough money as a cashier to pay his bills, according to the reports.
The reports said Guzman noticed what Shiloh was doing, and told him he wanted in.
The three men have been charged with state jail felonies punishable by 180 days to two years in jail and a maximum fine of $10,000.
