EAST HAVEN, Conn. — A Bridgeport woman was arrested Thursday after allegedly attempting to steal merchandise, including two portable air conditioners worth nearly $800, from the Home Depot in East Haven. The suspect, Mercedes Zebrowski, 35, reportedly wore a Home Depot apron in an attempt to impersonate a store employee.
According to the East Haven Police Department, officers were called to the Home Depot at 75 West Frontage Road around 12:40 p.m. after the store’s loss prevention team observed Zebrowski pushing a cart full of items out of the store without paying.
Store employees stopped her in the parking lot and were able to recover the two air conditioning units. Police located Zebrowski nearby, along with Julio Velazquez, 40, who was in the driver’s seat of a nearby vehicle. Zebrowski was still wearing the store apron when officers took her into custody without incident.
Further investigation revealed that Zebrowski had multiple active arrest warrants from different jurisdictions, with total bonds amounting to $130,000.
She was charged with fifth-degree larceny and transported to East Haven Police Headquarters, where she is being held on a combined $130,500 bond. Zebrowski is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Friday.
Velazquez was also detained and issued a misdemeanor summons for interfering with an officer and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny. He is due in New Haven Superior Court on July 9.
