A man claiming to be returning items to the Home Depot in Lockport on Thursday had actually picked those items only minutes early and got cash for their "return," according to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.

The man, "a tall slender guy, about 6 feet tall, with shoulder length hair," had three different receipts with him from the Niagara Falls Home Depot and said he had bought the items there. He also had other items he had tried to return without a receipt but a problem with his drivers license prevented the clerk from offering a refund.

The man was given $358.60 cash for the items he had receipts for and left the items he wasn't allowed to "return" on a flat cart in the store and walked out, arousing suspicion in the clerk.

A check of surveillance cameras show that the man entered the store around 11:20 a.m. Thursday with an empty cart. He then put items on the cart and proceeded to the return desk for his "refund." At approximately 11:31 a.m., he left the store and drove away in a burgundy/red SUV type vehicle.

Patrol checked the drivers license ID number that had been given to the store for the returns. It came back as invalid.

The assistant store manager told Patrol this type of incident is probably occurring at other stores, and they will be more aware of customers claiming to return items previously purchased when they don't witness the customers bring the items into the store with them.

The case is closed pending new information.

---

Don't miss any updates from East Niagara Post.
Follow us by email for daily updates of all our stories delivered straight to your inbox.