2 accused in thefts from Home Depots
Two people from Boca Raton are accused of stealing expensive tools from a Home Depot. And then another Home Depot. And another one.
Jennifer Ruth Shue, 41, was arrested Friday on charges tied to the thefts, including allegations that she drove Jason K. Ghannoum, 37, away from the thefts and went with him to sell the stolen items at area pawnshops. Ghannoum was arrested and charged in August by Palm Springs police, and charged in September by the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office. He posted an $8,000 bond on the second series of charges, which included larceny-retail theft and dealing in stolen property, and was released on Sept. 15.
Shue was being held Saturday at the Palm Beach County Jail with bail set at $14,500.
According to probable cause affidavits, Ghannoum in late August stole two hammer drills valued at almost $1,000 from a Home Depot on Lake Worth Road in Palm Springs, and got into a car driven by Shue. The next day, he allegedly stole other drills valued at almost $1,300 from a Home Depot on Jog Road outside Greenacres, and again got into a car with Shue, who called out to him, “They’re following you!”
Two days after that, Ghannoum allegedly returned to the Palm Springs store to steal about $1,050 worth of tools. He and Shue were soon stopped by Palm Springs police, and Ghannoum was arrested.
Home Depot stores shared information and realized Ghannoum earlier in August had stolen about $500 worth of tools from a Home Depot in Delray Beach. And Ghannoum is accused of trying to steal about $400 worth of tools from a Coconut Creek Home Depot store, but he left the cart behind and ran away when an employee confronted him.
Deputies say Shue was using her uncle’s car for the thefts.
A probable cause affidavit said Ghannoum had problems remembering dates, times and items stolen because of a drug problem that began with a prescription for an injury He said his drug dealer introduced him to Shue, and sometimes after pawning the stolen merchandise they’d go to the dealer’s house to buy drugs.
According to probable cause affidavits, Jason Ghannoum stole two hammer drills valued at almost $1,000 from a Home Depot in Palm Springs