A Carson City man faces felony burglary charges after admitting to stealing items from Home Deport on six occasions and exchanging them for gift cards that he would sell to pay for food and rent while maintaining his drug habit.
Michael McDowell, 49, was arrested Tuesday in the 1400 block of Rand Avenue. According to the arrest report, the Carson City Sheriff's Office was advised by a Home Depot security specialist that she was investigating McDowell for stealing items and returning them to the Home Depot at 3185 Market Street in exchange for gift cards.
The security agent advised that McDowell came into Home Depot, six different times with an empty cart, beginning in April 16 with a $117.15 stolen exchange, followed by a June 29 stolen exchange of 220.97; July 5, $165.67; Aug. 13, $148.96; Aug. 21 $258.79 and Aug. 23, 377.00, according to the arrest report.
Security told investigators that McDowell would then pick up items, go to the front register and returned the items for a gift card. On Sept. 3 at 11:11 a.m. Carson City investigators arrived at the Rand Avenue address and placed McDowell under arrest for an outstanding warrant out of Carson City and for the felony thefts at Home Depot.
Upon arrival at the Carson City Sheriff's Detectives Office, McDowell was given his Miranda rights where he agreed to speak with investigators regarding the burglaries at Home Depot. McDowell advised that he did all the burglaries reported by Home Depot and said that he would get the gift cards and then sell them for 50 cents on the dollar. He told investigators that he has a drug habit and was using the money for food and rent, the arrest report states.
During the interview he admitted to never purchasing any of the items from Home Depot and again stated that he would just pick up the closest items available and return the items for gift cards. He was able to go through the reports from Home Depot security and remembers all six times that were reported by Home Depot, the arrest report states. He was taken to jail and booked on a felony charge of six counts burglary and misdemeanor failure to provide community service. Bail: $21,000.