Two Florida career petty thieves were taken into custody for Home Depot theft after attempting to walk out with stolen merchandise.
According to law enforcement, deputies responded to a larceny in progress at the Palm Coast Home Depot. Moises Ocasio, 51, and Nichole Hardy, 41, both of Palm Coast, were caught by Home Depot’s asset security team packing equipment into Hardy’s huge purse. They then utilized the self-checkout to buy sandpaper, but they didn’t buy anything else from the purse and left the sandpaper at the counter.
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Deputies and asset protection officers apprehended them shortly after they went out the door. Inside the purse, deputies discovered a Ryobi jigsaw, a Ryobi multitool, and Diablo jigsaw blades. Deputies also found two meth pipes in Ocasio’s pocket.
Hardy and Ocasio have lengthy criminal records, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Ocasio has 16 previous theft-related offenses. Hardy has previously been convicted of stealing in both Duval and Volusia counties.
“These two just can’t stop trying to get five finger discounts,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “With almost two dozen combined previous arrests, you would think they would have learned they have to pay for their tools just like anyone else that isn’t a thief that is!”
Deputies arrested Hardy for petty theft and Ocasio for shoplifting following a previous conviction and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also arrested on a warrant for another theft, which involved stealing a slushie machine from Olie’s. Both were transferred to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where Hardy was later freed on $2,500 bond and Ocasio was held on $5,000 bond.
