LI Man Led Operation To Steal From Home Depots Across LI, NYC: DA

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Baldwin man was indicted in connection with a retail theft operation that targeted Home Depot stores across Long Island and New York City, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced Thursday.

Manooj Heeralall, 55, was accused of employing several individuals to steal merchandise from Home Depot locations in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn counties between October 2021 and December 2023, Donnelly said.

Search warrants executed at Heeralall's home recovered nearly $40K in merchandise that was apparently stolen, the DA said.

Heeralall pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include burglary and grand larceny, the DA said. He was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court April 7. If convicted, Heeralall faces up to two -and-one-third to seven years in prison.

Heeralall's attorney, Raymond Baierlein, did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

"This defendant was the alleged architect of a retail theft scheme targeting Home Depot stores across Long Island and in parts of New York City, in which nearly $40,000 worth of items were stolen and later shipped to Guyana to be sold for a profit," Donnelly said in a news release. "My office, with our partners at the Nassau County Police Department, will take down these retail theft rings and hold thieves accountable for their criminal actions."

Between October 2021 and December 2023, Heeralall employed individuals to steal items like circuit breakers, light switches, and other equipment from dozens of Home Depot locations in Nassau County, including Freeport, Levittown, Syosset, and Westbury, as well as stores located in Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn, prosecutors said.

Heeralall would meet the individuals later to pick up the stolen merchandise and provide payment, authorities said. Heeralall stored the merchandise in his home and garage, officials said.

Search warrants executed on Heeralall’s home on Dec. 7, 2023, seized nearly 1,000 circuit breakers, valued at $15,025, from inside the home, as well as hundreds of pieces of equipment, including circular saw blades, outlets and more circuit breakers from inside his garage, investigators said.

Four garbage bins were also found in the garage, containing $9,576 worth of acrylic roof coating, rock spotlights, oscillating blades for grout, and light switch wall plates, authorities said.

The total value of the items seized was approximately $37,151, the DA said.

Heeralall was arrested on Dec. 7, 2023, by members of the Nassau County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad.

"There is no place for retail crime in Nassau County," Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said. "These criminals targeting businesses and hard-working people will always be pursued, and we are proud of our partnership with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and Organized Retail Crime Task Force for bringing them to justice."

Heeralall was charged with third-degree burglary; third-degree criminal possession of stolen property; third-degree attempted criminal possession of stolen property; fourth-degree grand larceny; fourth-degree attempted criminal possession of stolen property; and fifth-degree conspiracy, the DA said.

The Nassau County DA's Office thanked The Home Depot Investigations Organized Retail Crime Northern Division for its cooperation and assistance in the investigation.