Home Depot employee reports two shoplifting incidents to Myrtle Beach police

A Home Depot employee reported two separate incidents of theft to Myrtle Beach police on Tuesday afternoon involving electrical outlets and a bath faucet.

Police were first called about 4 p.m. to the Home Depot at 951 Oak Forest Lane when a loss prevention associate saw a man select several items, including a bath faucet, fans, and knives, and put different sale tags over the original sale stickers.

Jeret Lloyd Cox, 26, purchased the items he selected for $43.63 and paid with a gift card. The items were said to be worth $415.94 before sales tax, according to a police report.

Police said Cox’s purchase was voided by Home Depot staff, and he was arrested and charged with obtaining goods under false pretenses less than $2,000.

Officers were called back to the same Home Depot store for another shoplifting about 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to a report.

Joseph Francis Zebrowski, 37, was seen taking and concealing electrical outlets, which totaled to $135.90. Zebrowski left without paying for the items and was escorted back into the store by a loss prevention associate and police were called, authorities said.

Police said they found cocaine on Zebrowski when they searched him at the Home Depot store. Zebrowski was arrested and taken to the Myrtle Beach Jail where he was charged with shoplifting and possession of cocaine.

This story was originally published January 28, 2015 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Home Depot employee reports two shoplifting incidents to Myrtle Beach police."