Home Depot employee accused of stealing $80K worth of merchandise

HAYWARD, Calif. — A Home Depot employee in California is accused of stealing approximately $80,000 worth of merchandise, authorities said.

>> Read more trending news

Officials found about 600 items after executing a search warrant at the employee’s home in Patterson on Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Authorities also found $90,000 in cash, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Investigators with Home Depot’s loss prevention department at the Hayward store estimated that the store lost approximately $300,000 in merchandise, according to the newspaper. Officials believe the worker stole the merchandise when the store was closed.

The employee, who was not identified, was arrested at the store and booked into the Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County on charges of organized retail crime, grand theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime, the CHP said in its Facebook post.