Home Depot Thief Caught By Customer

A man who tried to steal power tools from Home Depot in Bangor was caught with the help of a quick-thinking customer.

Police say it was a little before 3 when 34-year-old Jason Phillips ran from the Stillwater Avenue store, with two cases of power tools tucked under his arms. Once outside the store, he encountered a Game Warden, who stopped him to question what he was doing. Phillips struggled with the warden, managed to get away, and took off running.

Little did he know that he was being watched by Bangor photographer, Monty Rand, who was pulling into the lot in his pickup, on his way to buy a snowblower. Rand told WABI-TV that he headed in the direction the man was running and noticed he was moving toward a car with two others inside. Without thinking about it, Rand jumped out of his truck and ran over to the suspect, wrestling him to the ground.

Police arrived and took Phillips into custody, charging him with robbery and theft. An assault charge was added because he allegedly hit the warden in the face. A second person from the vehicle was arrested by his probation officer. Phillips is being held at the Penobscot County Jail.