Just one day after Houston Police broke up a major Home Depot theft ring Shenandoah busted a Hispanic male for theft at the IH-45 and Tamina store.
A little after noon Wednesday loss prevention employees from the Home Depot on IH-45 at Tamina contacted Shenandoah Police in reference to a shoplifter in the store. As Shenandoah arrived the suspect Rolando Avila, age 30 ran out of the store and with loss prevention and police behind him ran to the Buffalo Wild Wings across the street. There he stashed his coat and tried to hide in the dumpster.
Police were able to locate his car in the parking lot. The keys for the Chevrolet Cavalier were in Avila’s possession.
Having consented to search the vehicle they found almost $800 worth of saber saw blades and various other tools. When they opened the trunk they found almost three times that much from other Home Depot Stores in the Houston and Spring Valley area.
The suspect had also removed the front and rear license plates of the vehicle.
In addition to the tools, they found almost fifteen pounds of fajita meat on the floorboard and even more saw blades wrapped in tin foil.
He also had what appeared to be a shopping list and doctor and lawyer contacts for Workman’s comp.
He was placed in custody and transported to the Montgomery County jail.
Detectives say this is not his first round as the charges will most likely be enhanced with the prior convictions.
Shenandoah is also working with other law enforcement agencies to determine if the cases from other Home Depot thefts are related.
Since Loss Prevention employees have started working in the Shenandoah store and the police department across the freeway from the store very few shoplifters are getting away.
The suspect Rolando Avila, age 30, is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail on the theft charge with his bond set at $23000.
