Three Baltimore-area men were arrested this week in connection with a series of thefts from an Ellicott City Home Depot dating back to Feb. 3, Howard County police announced Friday.
Charged were Donnelle Markus Williams, 39, of Baltimore, with five counts of theft; Eric Alexander Ellerbe, 53, of Reisterstown, with four counts of theft; and Alexander Jerome Mathews, 45, of Baltimore, with five counts of theft.
All three are being held on $10,000 bond at Howard County Detention Center, police said.
Police said the three face charges in connection with three incidents at the Home Depot located in the 9100 block of Baltimore National Pike. Police described the incidents as follows:
- Feb. 3, approximately 1 p.m. -- An employee reported seeing two men enter a vehicle after activating a fire door. Surveillance footage indicated numerous faucets were stolen before the men fled through the fire door.
- March 27, 6:10 p.m. -- Two men stole a paint sprayer and numerous faucets before running out a fire door.
- March 29, 1:50 p.m. -- A man stole numerous faucets before running out a fire door.
Detectives determined that the suspects were fleeing in a 2007 Pontiac G-6, police said.
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on April 3, less than a week from the March 29 robbery, the suspect vehicle was observed entering the parking lot. Police said faucets were stolen from the store that day, and that they believe the suspects stole them.
Police said officers followed the suspect vehicle and later arrested the men as they sold the faucets at a pawn store in Baltimore.
Police said they believe the trio could be connected to more than 60 reported incidents of thefts from Home Depots in the region dating back to last December. No charges have been filed in those cases yet, but police said the investigation continues.