GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Chase Manning Baumgardner, 27, of Micanopy, and Heriberto Carlos Cruz Ortiz, 37, of Gainesville, are accused of repeatedly stealing tools from Home Depot and selling them to pawn shops.
According to Cruz Ortiz’s arrest report, he is a “well-known shoplifter at Home Depot.” Additional cases involving Home Depot and Lowe’s are reportedly pending against both men.
A Gainesville Police Department detective began investigating Cruz Ortiz after receiving reports from a loss prevention officer at the Home Depot on NW 13th Street and the manager of a local pawn shop. Employees at the shop became suspicious when Baumgardner and Cruz Ortiz brought in large quantities of new, boxed tools on “many different days.”
The detective reviewed Cruz Ortiz’s recent pawn transactions and identified 10 sales at four pawn shops over an eight-day period. The transactions involved 17 power tools and electric lawn mowers, all reportedly brand new and still in their original packaging. When Cruz Ortiz was arrested, “numerous” tools were allegedly found in the back seat of his vehicle. After being read his Miranda rights, Baumgardner reportedly told investigators that Cruz Ortiz had just stolen the items from the Lowe’s on NW 13th Street.
A Home Depot loss prevention officer also gathered surveillance footage of several incidents. In one video, Cruz Ortiz allegedly entered the Home Depot on NW 4th Boulevard on November 7 and selected a weed eater, lawn mower and leaf blower. He then reportedly pushed the items out of the store on a cart. The equipment was valued at $1,097. About an hour later, Cruz Ortiz allegedly pawned the same items, providing his identification, signature and thumbprint to confirm that he owned them. He received $450 for the three items.
The detective reported that Baumgardner was present during at least three incidents and was “clearly working with [Cruz Ortiz].”
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After being read his Miranda rights, Cruz Ortiz reportedly declined to answer questions and “just denied knowing anything about anything.”
Investigators questioned Baumgardner about a video that allegedly showed him acting as a lookout while Cruz Ortiz left the store with the tools. Baumgardner reportedly said he was not specifically watching for store employees. Instead, he said he had been waiting for Cruz Ortiz to send him a fake receipt for the stolen items so he could use it to take the same products. Baumgardner told investigators that Cruz Ortiz later called to say he had “too many items,” prompting Baumgardner to leave the store empty-handed and allegedly accompany him to a pawn shop.
Baumgardner is also accused of stealing tools from the Home Depot on NW 13th Street on September 29 and pawning them about 40 minutes later. He allegedly provided his identification, signature and thumbprint to confirm ownership of the tools, which were valued at $476. The pawn shop paid him $59.
Baumgardner faces two counts of organized dealing in stolen property, two counts of providing false information on a pawn form, two counts of grand theft and one count of petit theft. His criminal history was unavailable because those records are not posted on holidays. Judge Lua Lepianka set his bail at $45,000.
Cruz Ortiz faces two counts of organized dealing in stolen property, two counts of providing false information on a pawn form, one count of grand theft and one count of theft. His criminal history was also unavailable because the records are not posted on holidays. Judge Lepianka set his bail at $50,000.