PRINCETON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man faces charges after stealing hundreds of dollars in merchandise from the Ace Hardware in Mercer County.
According to documents from the Magistrate Court of Mercer County, on Monday, February 19, 2024, at approximately 9:04am, the 1055 Stafford Drive Ace Hardware location in Princeton, WV experienced a loss of merchandise totaling at $1,492.62.
The merchandise taken included a bundle of copper wire valued at $718, a power stack 20-volt battery valued at $178.99, a LI ion 20-volt battery valued at $129, an additional bundle of copper wire valued at $169 and an XR-LI 20-volt battery valued at $198.99.
Jeffrey Dean Bailey could be seen on camera, with the items having reportedly been concealed by Dean stuffing them into his overalls.
Bailey was seen leaving the scene in a silver 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander with Virginia registration. He then reportedly conspired with others, taking 25 pounds of stolen copper to Brushfork Recycle the day after the incident and selling it for market value through an individual at the business.
Video from Brushfork Recycle surveillance depicts Bailey at the location still wearing the overalls and hat worn during the theft incident.
Authorities were unsuccessful in locating Bailey until March 18, 2024, at which point he was arrested on charges of Grand Larceny and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony based on the incident during which the merchandise was stolen.
