CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Home Depot stores in Chicago were taken for $5.5 million by scammers, who allegedly partnered with multiple employees, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said it started in 2020, with a purchase totaling about $6,000. Someone returned to the store with the receipt and said the purchase had been for a tax-exempt church, for which they provided documentation.
They were given a $900 credit on a gift card.
Over a period of more than three years, going all the way up to earlier this week, prosecutors said the same receipt was used — with the same result — thousands of times.
Two Home Depot cashiers were alleged to have been in on it. Christiana Westbrooks and Sharon Dwyer were charged with theft. A man identified as Lamont Thompson was also charged with theft.
It was alleged that he was one of those posing as a customer.
It’s unclear how this alleged scheme went on for so long before it was detected.
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