The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
North Olmsted Police arrested a shoplifter last week who said his heroin habit drove drove him to crime.
The scene unfolded on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at approximately 16:19 hours, when two North Olmsted patrolmen responded to the Home Depot located at Great Northern for a male shoplifter being detained.
Dispatch informed that the male has several outstanding warrants for theft. Upon arrival, officers met Jon Cook a loss prevention agent for the Home Depot. The male being detained was identified as Dean E. Clark.
Mr. Cook reported that at approximately 16:00 hours, he observed Clark enter the electrical
department with an empty 20 gallon tote inside a shopping cart. Clark selected 3 rolls of wire and he placed the items in the 20 gallon tote. Clark proceeded to the front of the store where he stopped for a moment looking around. He then proceeded past the cash registers without making an attempt to pay for the merchandise.
Clark exited the store and Cook approached him in the parking lot, identifying himself as a loss prevention agent. The two men retumed to the loss prevention office and the police were called.
The merchandise recovered from this theft offense is as follows:2 rolls of 50′ wire valued at $63.27 each, one 500′ roll of wire valued at $ 222.00 and one 20 gallon tote valued at $ 6.47 for a total value of $355.01. The recovered merchandise was retumed to the store.
Police advised Clark his rights and he claimed that he understood his rights. Police asked Clark, “Are the allegations true? Did you steal the merchandise?” Clark admitted to the theft.
Clark explained to me that he is a heroin addict. He is stealing to support his habit. Clark signed a notice advising him not to retum to the property or he may be subject to arrest.
Police tansported Clark back to the station where he was charged with petty theft ORC 2913.02 (A) (l), Ml and processed. He was released on a signature bond and assigned a Rocky River Municipal Court date of 10107/2014. Clark was transferred to the Lorain County Sheriffs Office.
