A 48-year-old man from Cobourg is facing nine theft charges following an investigation into thefts at Home Depot stores in Whitby and Bowmanville.
Durham Regional Police said the thefts took place between October and December 2025 at the Home Depot located at 1700 Victoria Street East in Whitby and the store at 120 Clarington Boulevard in Bowmanville.
According to police, the man took home insulation from the stores on multiple occasions. He would gather numerous packages of insulation, but scanned and paid for only a few of them before leaving the store.
Investigators from the East Division Criminal Investigation Branch arrested the man without incident on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Michael Francis Sprayson, 48, of Cobourg is charged with nine counts of theft under $5,000, Durham Regional Police said.
Police appeal for footage
Police are asking anyone with cellphone, dash cam or surveillance footage, or information about the incidents, to contact Det. Micallef of the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 1615.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (1-800-222-TIPS) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
Durham Regional Police noted that the information released comes from a police investigation, and that the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
