Two Arrested in Separate Home Depot A/C Thefts

A.J. Pike

St. Croix - On Monday, July 13, 2026, the VIPD responded to two separate incidents reported by Home Depot St. Croix regarding the theft of air conditioning units.

The first incident was reported at 5:07 pm, where two individuals were allegedly seen stealing four Quul Brand Smart Inverter Air Conditioning units.

While Officers were responding to the case, they saw fit to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 30-year old Elroy Tonge, a suspect who matched the description provided to them by Home Depot employees. 

Officers were informed by Home Depot that two males had exited the store with a cart full of air conditioning units. Surveillance footage confirmed that Mr. Tongue was observed exiting the store with the stolen items.

The total value of the stolen merchandise was over $2,300. Following the findings, Mr. Tongue was arrested and taken into custody. He was advised of his rights. He was charged with Grand Larceny and Possession of Stolen Property. 

Later that evening, at approximately 6:25 pm, the 911 Emergency Call Center received another report of two males who allegedly stole multiple air conditioning units from Home Depot St. Croix, The suspects were described as Black males with dreadlocks. 

Responding Officers observed two males, one of whom matched the description provided, loading split air conditioning units into a black Acura RDX near the AutoZone parking lot. As Officers approached, the suspects fled the scene in an attempt to evade capture. 

VIPD Officers were led on a car chase into the Sunny Acres community, past Barren Spot and into Estate Glynn where the suspects smashed their vehicle into an Estate Glynn structure that was described by police as an old crack house. Subsequently, police finally apprehended one of the suspects, identified as 33-year old Joannes Francois. Mr. Francois was confirmed as the same male observed loading and stealing the air conditioning units before fleeing the scene in an attempt to evade capture. 

Mr. Francois was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny. 

Bail for both Mr. Tonge and Mr. Francois was set at $20,000. They were remanded at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending their Advice of Rights hearings.