By Jim Clark

Last Thursday evening, Somerville police was contacted by the Home Depot Asset Protection Manager from the Home Depot store located on Mystic Ave.

Police were reportedly informed that the store security staff had placed a Home Depot employee, Daniel Young, of Malden, under video surveillance, due to reports that he was observed carting large amounts of merchandise out of the loading dock without paying for it, and loading it onto the trucks of various persons he met outside the store.

Police were informed that Young was staging a large amount of merchandise at the side loading dock for a delivery, consistent with the pattern of the previous thefts.

Young had then left the store, according to reports, and began walking around in the vicinity of Assembly Square.

Investigating police officers located Young, who was reportedly pacing back and forth in Fron of the nearby Kmart store, talking on his cell phone.

The investigating officers reported that they felt Young was engaged in setting up a pickup of the Home Depot merchandise.

Young then began walking back towards the Home Depot, and police officers notified the store security personnel so that they would be ready to resume surveillance on the suspect.

Young arrived back at the loading dock area of the store, according to the store security staff, and met with a man driving a truck, later identified as Barem Sharwani, of Woburn.

Police said that the two men immediately began removing store merchandise from the loading dock and into the back of the truck.

Among the merchandise taken was a large amount of moldings, lumber, ladders and power tools, and a bath faucet, police said.

Police officers converged on the two suspects and escorted them back to the Asset Protection Office for questioning.

Sharwani and Young were placed in separate rooms. Officers first spoke with Young. He was informed that he was a suspect in a crime, and was read his Miranda rights.

Young reportedly stated that he understood his rights, had not taken any alcohol or drugs, and held a high school level education. He also stated that at the time he would feel more comfortable talking to the store security staff alone. The officers then reportedly left the room to allow the staff and Young a chance to speak.

Police next spoke with Sharwani, who was likewise advised as Young. Sharwani reportedly stated that he understood his rights, had not taken any alcohol or drugs, and held a high school level education.

Initially Sharwani stated that he did not wish to speak with me. However, as we sat in the room together waiting for security staff to conclude their interview with Young, Sharwani answered a few questions.

According to reports, Sharwani stated that he was helping a friend build a house, which is why he needed the building supplies and tools. He further stated that he had become acquainted with Young on a website known as Offer Up, an application used for buying and selling, similar to eBay. Sharwani stated that he could not produce a receipt for the merchandise.

Ultimately, it was learned that Young had been staging similar thefts, selling merchandise to a few local building contractors at half the sticker value. Police said that Young signed a statement for the store security staff, admitting to the attempted theft that evening, as well as several others. The estimated total value of the thefts was given as $10,000 to $30,000.

Both Young and Sharwani were placed under arrest and charged with conspiracy and larceny over $250.