Ohio Township, Allegheny County, PA (PPP)— A retail theft incident that occurred at a Home Depot store on January 26, 2023, is being investigated by authorities. According to the asset protection manager, an unknown male and female entered the store with empty carts and split up to different parts of the store. The male suspect, identified as Isaiah Jones, selected three Dewalt power tools and attempted to leave the store with them. However, he abandoned the concealed items when he realized he was being monitored. Jones then left the store and entered a Chevrolet sedan where Brittany Bailey was waiting. The attempted loss was $427.

On February 17, 2023, police were dispatched to Giant Eagle for suspicious activity, where a black female and a black male were reported to be checking unoccupied vehicles and asking for money. Officers located the individuals inside the store and detained them after learning from Home Depot that they matched the description of the suspects in the retail theft. Jones consented to a search of his backpack and plastic bags, and officers found unopened boxes of merchandise, including a Wyze doorbell that Jones could not prove ownership of.

On February 18th, Home Depot provided an incident report detailing how Jones had concealed items, including the Wyze doorbell, into his backpack and attempted to leave the store with Bailey. Employees stood near the exit to deter the theft and recovered items worth $888.45. CCTV footage also showed Jones stealing an orange soda from a Giant Eagle store before the police arrived. During the investigation, it was discovered that Jones had two prior retail theft convictions.

Name: Isaiah Wayland Jones
Gender: Male
Age: 32

Agency: Ohio Township Police Department

Court: Magisterial District Court 05-2-01
Docket Number: MJ-05201-CR-0000048-2023
Date Filed: February 24, 2023

Criminal Charges

1. Retail Theft, F3
2. Retail Theft, F3
3. Criminal Attempt
4. Criminal Conspiracy, F

Affidavit of Probable Cause
I, Officer Barry Bissiere am a full~time Police Officer employed by the Ohio Township Police Department and currently assigned to the patrol division. All information contained herein is believed to be true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

This investigation was conducted between the initial report on January 26, 2023, to the final in-person contact with the actor(s) on February 17, 2023.

On January 26, 2023, at 1632 hours, Home Depot Asset Protection manager ██████ reported to police that a retail theft had occurred at the Home Depot located at ███ Ben Avon Heights Road, Ohio Township in Allegheny County.

██████ provided me with a detailed Home Depot incident report which included a narrative written by ██████. He stated that he observed an unknown male and female enter the store with empty shopping carts. ██████ sated that the male entered with an empty reusable Target tote bag and the female with a large flat purse. Both individuals then split up and proceeded to different parts of the store.

The following will be the actions of the male, later identified as Isaiah Jones, and will be referred to as such. According to ██████’s narrative, the following occurred.

Jones selects three Dewalt power tools quickly after splitting up with the female (Brittany Bailey – co-defendant). He quickly selects three (3) Dewalt tools. After observing that ██████ was monitoring his actions, he abandoned the bag with the concealed Dewalt items inside. He is then seen proceeding out of the store and entering the Chevrolet sedan that Bailiey was currently inside waiting. The vehicle is then seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Itemized list:

1. Dewalt Compact BlueRadio – SKU 1004632064 – unit price $179.00
2. Dewalt 20 volt – SKU 1001592170 – unit price $119.00
3. 6.3 ADR – SKU 105367 – unit price $119.00

The total attempted loss was four hundred and twenty seven dollars and zero cents ($427.00)

On February 17th, 2023 at 2100 hours officers were dispatched to Giant Eagle located at ███ Ben Avon Heights Road for suspicious activity. The caller to 911 reported a black female and a black male wearing dark-colored clothing were checking unoccupied vehicles parked in the parking lot and asking people for money. The caller also believed that these two individuals were having a domestic dispute.

Sgt. Beck, Officer Botta, and I arrived on the scene and an employee reported that the two individuals entered Giant Eagle. Officers located the two individuals inside who stated that they were waiting for their ride. Both appeared nervous, worked up, and emotional. I spoke to the male who identified himself as Isaiah Jones with a date of birth of ██████. While speaking with these individuals, officers were updated that Home Depot was reporting a retail theft and gave an exact description of the individuals that we were speaking to. Officer BOTTA and I detained the male and female in handcuffs and placed them in separate patrol cars due to weather conditions. It should be noted that Home Depot ███ Ben Avon Heights Drive is adjacent to Giant Eagle, ███ Ben Avon Heights Road, and is only separated by two (2) parking lots.

Jones gave consent to search his black backpack and plastic bags that he was carrying on initial contact. The backpack was empty, however the bottom appeared to weighted. I unzipped the bottom compartment and located a Wyze door bell, unopened and not in a bag. Along with other unopened boxes of merchandise. Jones could not-prove ownership of these unopened items.

These items were documented and seized.

At the time of this call, Home Depot was now closed for business and Asset Protection employee ██████ was not on scene. Based on this, the female and male were identified and released pending further investigation.

I followed up with ██████ on February 18th. He provided me with a detailed incident report At 2040 hours. A male and female enter the Home Depot. Both Individuals were wearing COVID 19 style face coverings around their mouth area. According to ██████, Jones concealed items including the Wyze door bell camera into his black back pack. Jones and Bailey then attempt to leave the store, however employees stood near the exit to deter the theft.

Itemized list:

1. Dewalt 20V X – SKU 885911431200 – unit price $349.00
2. Wyze Door Bell – SKU 859696007981 – unit price $49.98 (recovered from backpack)
3. Milwaukee M12 – SKU 045242615742 – unit price $199.00
4. Milwaukee M12 – SKU 045242615742 – unit price $199.00
5. Milwaukee M12 3/8″ 4 In 1 – SKU 045242541232 – unit price $249.00
6. HD Rubag – sku 390065 – unit price $2.47

Employees recovered these items which totaled eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars and forty-five cents ($888.45).

I then conducted a follow up with ██████, Giant Eagle loss prevention. He stated that the male (Jones) in the colorful hoodie enters the store prior to PD arrival. He is seen concealing a orange soda into a Target bag in Isle 2 and exits the store without paying.

Through the course of this investigation, I was in contact with Officer Capobianco of the Ross Township Police Department. Officer Capobianco was also investigating these individuals for a theft at the Ross Township Home Depot but had yet to identify them. I relayed all information to Officer Capobianco after positive identification was made.

A review of Jones’s lengthy certified criminal history shows a total of two (2) retail theft convictions.