Posing as company rep, Warren man accused of $4K shoplifting attempt at Austintown Home Depot

Allegedly posing as a representative of a major tool manufacturer, a Warren man is accused of attempting to steal more than $4,200 worth of power tools from the Home Depot in Austintown.

Joshua T. Huey, 37, is in the county jail awaiting a Wednesday court appearance on charges of felony theft, possessing criminal tools, and vandalism, according to court records.

According to an Austintown Police report, officers were called to the Home Depot on Mahoning Ave. on Monday for a shoplifting complaint. A Home Depot Loss Prevention employee told officers he saw Huey, who identified himself as a DeWalt sales representative, cut open several sealed boxes of DeWalt tools. DeWalt is a well-known global brand of power and hand tools. Huey allegedly cut open several sealed boxes of DeWalt tools, including lawnmowers, and hid batteries inside a Home Depot bucket and a DeWalt bag.

The employee told police that Huey used bolt cutters, taken from a neighboring aisle, to break a lock on a metal gate containing power tools, damaging the gate. Huey then allegedly attempted to leave the store with a flatbed cart loaded with 23 items, including several DeWalt batteries, saws, blowers, and grinders, totaling $4,210.49, without paying, according to the police report.

In addition to impounding Huey’s Jeep, police collected the bolt cutters, broken lock, knife, a bookbag, a DeWalt tool bag with tools and parts, and a clipboard with papers and receipts as evidence. Video footage of the incident is expected to be provided to detectives.