SAN ANTONIO – A man is behind bars, accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from Home Depot stores across the Lone Star State.

Investigators for the company said Elias Marquez used a sticker scam to steal from the home improvement stores.

Marquez, 32, would switch the price tags and barcodes on a high price light for a lower price light. After multiple transactions at several Home Depots, investigators said he would then return the lights for store credit amounting to the full value of the products, according to an arrest affidavit.

The investigators said the scheme happened throughout the state.

Store surveillance video showed Marquez or an associate making the returns.

So far, investigators have tracked 13 transactions at San Antonio area stores to Marquez, costing the stores $2,835.50.

Marquez was arrested at a Home Depot store in Sunset Valley, just outside Austin. He is facing a theft charge and remains in the Bexar County Jail.