08-07-2025
Stuart man jailed on felony charge related to thefts at Home Depot
STUART — A Stuart man is in jail on a felony charge related to thefts from a Home Depot in June and July, according to arrest affidavits.
Brendan Colin Milligan, 43, of Stuart, was charged with seven counts of felony petty theft with two or more prior convictions, and resisting a merchant while committing a theft, according to his arrest affidavit. He was taken into custody on July 4 and is in the Martin County Jail on $20,000 bond.
Milligan does not have an attorney and will be representing himself, according to the Martin County Clerk of Courts.
On June 25 the Stuart Police Department received a report about a bicycle being stolen from an enclosed patio on June 12. The person who reported the theft did not want the suspect arrested, according to police.
Officers searched a database that tracks pawn transactions. Nothing came up for the suspect selling a bicycle, but officers found pawn slips for the man selling a Milwaukee chainsaw and a hedge trimmer in Stuart.
The officer knew Milwaukee was a brand sold primarily by Home Depot, and reached out about a possible theft. After looking at security footage, they found a video of a man leaving the store with two Milwaukee tools without paying.
The Milwaukee tools totaled $298. The loss prevention representative of Home Depot and two officers reviewed the video footage and determined the man was Milligan, who had been convicted in the past on similar charges, according to his arrest affidavit.
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On July 4, the representative approached Milligan in the store and called him out by name, causing him to flee the scene. He was taken into custody later that day by Stuart Police.
The representative continued to investigate, and reported additional thefts at the Home Depot for which Milligan was accused.
During the investigation, detectives found Milligan had been convicted of 16 counts of petty theft in December 2023, according to the Martin County Clerk of Courts.
Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Man jailed on felony charge related to thefts in Stuart
