RLP NEWS
Thirty-nine-year-old Fernando Quitugua Babauta, recently arrested on drug possession charges, now faces additional charges of retail theft for his alleged involvement in a hardware store theft earlier this year.
According to court documents, Babauta was identified as a suspect in a January incident at Home Depot, where he and another individual reportedly left the store without paying for items loaded into shopping carts.
Store employees suspected the theft was part of an “organized retail theft crime” and provided video surveillance footage to authorities. This footage helped investigators link Babauta to the incident.
The case highlights the overlap between retail theft and other criminal activities, as organized retail theft continues to be a significant concern for businesses. Law enforcement emphasizes the importance of collaboration with retailers to address these crimes and hold offenders accountable.