A Kent man is facing a Class C felony charge of second-degree theft and a misdemeanor charge of making a false or misleading statement to a public servant in Lewis County after he was allegedly caught trying to steal tools from the Home Depot in Chehalis on Oct. 13.
Kirandeep Singh, 32, was one of two suspects arrested Tuesday after they allegedly hid tools inside of a tool box in Home Depot before paying for only the tool box and trying to leave. The other suspect was Amrik Singh.
The Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked for bail to be set at $25,000, citing Kirandeep’s extensive criminal history, which includes multiple theft, attempted theft and trespassing convictions, along with another ongoing organized retail theft charge he’s currently facing in Thurston County Superior Court.
Defense attorney Rachel Tiller asked for no more than $10,000 in bail, stating she believed Kirandeep had been improperly charged with making the false or misleading statement, and pointed out it was Amirk who had given Chehalis police a false name.
She also said he had appeared at his Thurston County Superior Court hearing the previous day, which “demonstrates his willingness to come to court,” Tiller said.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office replied the false or misleading statement charge came from Kirandeep’s alleged initial denial of stealing the tools. He also stated he believed Kirandeep was a risk to reoffend.
Lewis County Superior Court Pro Tem Commissioner Kathryn Eyraud decided to set Kirandeep’s bail at $25,000. His arraignment and and trial setting hearing in Lewis County Superior Court is set for Nov. 5 at 2:30 p.m.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by prosecutors, a Home Depot loss prevention employee observed two men unsuccessfully attempting to access merchandise stored in locked cages inside the business.
The suspects split up and one of the men, later identified as Amrik, was observed trying to get into another locked display case, but was again unsuccessful. Amrik then moved to another aisle inside the Home Depot where Kirandeep allegedly met up with him, then opened up a Milwaukee Tool display, placing several tools in a shopping cart.
The loss prevention employee then observed Amrik allegedly acting as a lookout while Kirandeep allegedly placed an HDX brand multi-use bin in the cart and put the Milwaukee tools inside of it.
“Kirandeep then returned to aisle 12 and took two additional Milwaukee tools. He concealed them in the same box,” the declaration of probable cause stated. Upon observing the HDX bin being taped shut, the loss prevention employee called 911 to report a theft in progress.
Kirandeep was then allegedly observed checking out, paying for a can of bug spray and the HDX bin, but not for the tools inside of the bin.
The loss prevention employee contacted Kinrandeep Amrik as he they attempted to leave when police arrived. The declaration of probable cause stated when confronted by police, “Kirandeep said he did not steal anything but admitted he was attempting to steal but was unable to do so. Amrik was also contacted … He initially provided his name as Amargar Gill.”
A search of the HDX bin revealed a total of six Milwaukee power tools, valued at a total of $1,424. During this time, Amrik appeared to suffer a medical issue, and a search of his wallet positively identified him as Amrik Singh before he was taken to the hospital.
Kirandeep was read his rights, and claimed again he had not stolen anything, the affidavit of probable cause added.
