Crime & Safety

Man Assaulted Home Depot Employee in Garden Section, Cops Say

Employee confronted man who was allegedly trying to shoplift $2,000 worth of merchandise from the Mahwah hardware store, police say.

A New York man was arrested in Mahwah Tuesday after police say he attempted to shoplift over $2,000 worth of merchandise from the Home Depot, and assaulted an employee who confronted him, Mahwah Police Chief Jim Batelli announced in a release Tuesday evening.

According to Batelli, Rene Ruggio, 50, of Lindenhurst, N.Y., allegedly entered the store Tuesday morning and started placing items – including power tools, electrical supplies, and a microwave – in cardboard boxes that he had in his shopping cart. Cops said he then placed a piece of cardboard and a large bag of grass seed over all of the boxes.

When a loss prevention specialist at the Route 17 North Home Depot recognized Ruggio from a prior shoplifting incident and asked to speak with him, Ruggio allegedly pushed him, starting an altercation that had both men falling into and knocking down racks of flowers, Batelli said.

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Ruggio was arrested and charged with strong arm robbery while committing an act of shoplifting, shoplifting, and assault, Batelli said. Bail has been set at $75,000, he said.

According to cops, Ruggio has previously been arrested on a multitude of charges, including robbery, burglary, assault, and theft.

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Police said they believe he entered the store with another individual who they say may have been an accomplice, and cops are now examining in-store video camera footage to continue the investigation into this incident.


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