Boston Thief Sentenced for Stealing $7,000 Worth of Merchandise from Home Depot

Boston man Jeramie Croft was sentenced to up to three years in state prison for a series of thefts from Home Depot stores in the South Bay Mall and West Roxbury.

Croft, 42, has a lengthy history of shoplifting and trespassing with over 80 convictions, including more than 20 shoplifting charges. The total value of the thefts was around $7,000, with several incidents caught on surveillance video showing Croft wheeling hundreds or even thousands of dollars in merchandise out of the store in large trash barrels.

In one incident, Croft returned to the South Bay Mall Home Depot after stealing two drill combination kits valued at $798 and told employees he would be back to steal more items. He was charged with larceny over $1,200, malicious destruction of property, and being a common and notorious thief.

Croft pleaded guilty to all seven charges and will serve two years of probation following the completion of his sentence, as well as being ordered to stay away from the South Bay Mall, any victims or witnesses, and all Home Depot stores upon his release. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said Croft 'presents a clear threat to our retail community' and that the prison sentence is 'entirely justified by his repeated offenses.'