Home Depot heists in Hamilton lead police to $300K in stolen goods

Over 200 charges have been laid against dozens of people after an investigation into thefts at Home Depots in Hamilton led police to uncover $300,000 in stolen items.

The Hamilton Police Service says investigators launched Project Checkout following a 25 per cent increase in thefts at Home Depot stores across the city.

But what started as investigations into multiple shoplifting incidents “revealed an organized operation” stealing high-value tools and construction equipment from Home Depot stores. The items were then resold through online marketplace ads at prices well below retail, police say.

The offenders threatened violence when store employees attempted to intervene in several of the incidents, police say.

The four-month investigation led police to a commercial property and a residence where raids turned up hundreds of suspected stolen tools and other items believed to be connected to the theft ring. A 2021 Ram TRX valued at approximately $100,000 was also seized.

Police say the operation led to 235 charges laid against 32 people, 15 court orders obtained, two search warrants and more than $300,000 in suspected stolen property recovered, along with the Ram TRX.

Here are all the people charged in Project Checkout.

James Classen, 64

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 2.

Ronny Maroughi, 33

• Theft Under $5,000.

Brandon Comley, 33

• Theft Under $5,000.

Geddy Jensen, 43

• Theft Under $5,000.

Rajwinder Singh, 45

• Theft Under $5,000.

Karanbir Singh, 31

• Theft Under $5,000

Sartaj Singh, 28

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 2.

Lakhvir Singh, 27

• Theft Under $5,000.

Aashish Sharma, 34

• Theft Over $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 2.

Adam Greenly, 30

• Theft Under $5,000.

Vishkavjeet Singh, 23

• Theft Under $5,000.

Cody Wood, 31

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 4.

Andrew Doyle, 47

• Theft Under $5,000.

Matthew Wells, 44

• Theft Under $5,000.

Mati Husam, 34

• Theft Under $5,000.

Rita Al Bezo, 33

• Theft Under $5,000.

Vishavjeet Singh, 23

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 2

Manpreet Singh, 30

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Release Order x 4.

David Phung, 19

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime.
• Resist Arrest.

Timothy Hall, 42

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation.

Conor Fisher, 26

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Gurmeet Singh, 28

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Daljinder Singh, 35

• Theft Under $5,000 x 5.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 x 5.
• Fail to Comply with Release Order x 73.
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking x 5.

Samir Mati, 50

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Jonathan Woodruff, 21

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Destiny Sawkins, 40

• Theft Under $5,000.

Mark McCombe, 55

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Dylan Pynn, 29

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 3.

Gurjit Singh, 25

• Theft Over $5,000.
• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Disobey Court Order x 2.
• Fail to Comply with Probation x 3.

William Duce, 49

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.

Malkit Singh, 46

• Trafficking in Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000.
• Possession of Proceeds of Crime Over $5,000.

Kamaljit Sandhu, 41

• Theft Under $5,000.
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
• Disobey Court Order.
• Fail to Comply with Probation.