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Passaic Sheriff: Garfield Fire Door Duo Swiped Home Depot Goods For Drugs

WAYNE, N.J. -- Two ex-cons from Garfield -- one of whom was part of a takedown by Rochelle Park police of a large-scale prescription fraud ring -- were part of a crew that shoplifted items from several Home Depot stores in Passaic County to pay for drugs, county sheriff's investigators charged.

David Buczek, Douglas Sabolewski

David Buczek, Douglas Sabolewski

Photo Credit: MUGSHOTS: Courtesy PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF

David Buczek, 32, and Douglas Sabolewski, 31, frequently snatched Milwaukee and Makita drill sets, then fled through a fre door to a waiting vehicle, Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik said Friday.

They targeted Home Depot locations in Passaic, Clifton, Totowa and Paterson, the sheriff said.

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage that recorded the pair swiping $7,000 in tools, Berdnik said.

Late Thursday morning, employees at Home Depot's Passaic store alerted the sheriff's detectives that both were back.

Uniformed Passaic officers took them into custody and handed them over to Berdnik's investigators, the sheriff said.

Sabolewski was carrying 17 glassine envelopes of heroin, he said.

Buczek’s 2004 Audi A4 was towed and will be subject to possible forfeiture, the sheriff said.

David Buczek was charged with nine counts of shoplifting and Sabolewski with four.

A judge released both without bail pending a court appearance.“I want to commend the PCSO Detectives and Home Depot employees involved in this investigation,” Berdnik said. "Shoplifting elevates the price of products, which affects all consumers.”

"Detectives will be forwarding information to other jurisdictions outside Passaic County after receiving information the pair may have also shoplifted from other store locations," he added.

Dates/locations of the thefts:

  • 12/13/16: Paterson Home Depot
  • 12/22/16: Clifton Home Depot
  • 12/24/16: Totowa Home Depot
  • 12/27/16: Paterson Home Depot
  • 12/28/16: Totowa Home Depot
  • 1/2/17: Paterson Home Depot
  • 1/3/17: Totowa Home Depot
  • 1/17/17: Totowa Home Depot
  • 1/18/17: Paterson Home Depot

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