ROCKINGHAM, Vt. — On Jan. 23 at 11:47 a.m., troopers with the Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop on I-91, near mile marker 35 in Rockingham, Vermont for a speeding violation. During the course of the traffic stop, probable cause was developed for a search of the vehicle. During the search, troopers located $3,020 worth of stolen power tools, belonging to a Home Depot store located in Keene, New Hampshire.
José Hernandez, 53, and Joseph Barnoski, 32, both of Holyoke, Massachusetts were arrested for the offense of possession of stolen property. Both were transported to the Westminster Barracks for processing and later transferred to the Southern State Correctional Facility for lodging with bail set at $2,500.
Additional criminal charges in other states are possible as the investigation continues. Both subjects are believed to have previously stolen similar amounts of items from numerous Home Depot stores in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts throughout 2018 and into 2019. Anyone who may have information or witnessed the thefts are encouraged to contact the Keene Police Department or the Vermont State Police.
Hernandez and Barnoski appeared at the Windham County court in Brattleboro on Jan. 24 to answer the charges against them.
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