safety
Home Depot customer service manager admits to stealing from Georgia store through fake returns
By Sam Sachs at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 1, 2026
· 2 min read
A customer service manager at a northwest Georgia Home Depot is in hot water after admitting to committing fraud against her own store, police say.According to a Cartersville Police Department report, Susan Barlow worked at the Home Depot on Gentilly Blvd.Friday, the store manager called police t...
Key takeaway That employee was Barlow, who was a Home Depot employee for nearly 25 years, the police report says.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The theft by a Home Depot customer service manager in Cartersville raises concerns about internal controls at major retailers in the Atlanta area. With nearly 25 years of experience, Susan Barlow's position as manager of the customer service and returns department gave her significant autonomy over transactions and department finances. The fact that she was able to steal $1,737 through fake returns over several months suggests a lack of oversight and accountability. This case may prompt other retailers in Fulton County to review their own return policies and employee screening procedures to prevent similar incidents. The use of surveillance footage and internal affairs investigations by Home Depot's security team was crucial in building a case against Barlow, and other companies may take note of these measures to protect against employee theft. As the case against Barlow moves forward, it will be worth watching how Home Depot and other local retailers respond to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 1, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A customer service manager at a northwest Georgia Home Depot is in hot water after admitting to committing fraud against her own store, police say.According to a Cartersville Police Department report, Susan Barlow worked at the Home Depot on Gentilly Blvd.Friday, the store manager called police t...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 1, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Sam Sachs at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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