A sharp apology in store pencil case

The whole incident was absurd, said the carpenter who was banned last week from all Home Depots worldwide for pocketing a pencil.

And yesterday, Home Depot apologized, saying that Michael Panorelli, 51, who had spent $117 on window-trimming lumber, should never have been written up for taking the pencil. Panorelli said he did it absent-mindedly.

''We encourage our associates to follow the letter of our . . . zero-tolerance policy against shoplifting," said Home Depot spokesman Yancy Casey, reached by phone yesterday in Atlanta. ''In this case, there was an error in judgment."

The company wants to make amends, but Panorelli isn't up to returning their calls or doing business with them -- ever again.

''I heard they issued a public apology and that I'm welcome back in the store anytime I feel like it," said Panorelli, of Lawrence. ''Somehow, that doesn't do anything for me."

Panorelli went to the Home Depot in Methuen just before 9 a.m. Thursday with his client, well-known Lawrence business owner George Salas. Salas grabbed a pencil near the cash register so that Panorelli could do some quick math. Panorelli pocketed the pencil and, with Salas, picked up and paid for the lumber.

The loss-prevention worker was waiting for them outside the door, Panorelli said. An assistant manager was called. Panorelli had to give a copy of his driver's license. The loss-prevention worker snickered and asked if he needed a pencil so badly that he had to steal one, Panorelli said.

''He wanted me to sign a confession saying I knowingly took something of value from the store," Panorelli said. ''I didn't sign."

The worker who stopped Panorelli, identified by the store as Scott Jordan, gave Panorelli a statement saying he was banned from Home Depot. Panorelli was then given another letter from the legal department, he said.

Panorelli decided to go to the newspapers. His story was first reported in the Eagle-Tribune of Lawrence. He figured he didn't stand a chance against the consumer giant.

''It said I might be hearing from Home Depot's law firm," said Panorelli, referring to the letter he was given.

Salas, who is Hispanic, thinks the incident is racially motivated. ''The guy followed us; he was watching us," Salas said. ''The whole thing was race. Mike may not bring it up. But I know."

Panorelli, who is Italian, would not comment on that.

Home Depot said the incident was a narrow interpretation of the rules. ''We are going to be trying to make amends on that end and attempt to work on retaining him as a customer," Casey said.

The Globe was unable to reach Jordan, but Home Depot said that he followed his job description to the letter and that his job is intact. A manager at the store referred all questions about Jordan to Home Depot's Atlanta headquarters.

Panorelli said it was embarrassing to have four employees escort him out. ''I have no intention of going back in there," he said. ''Why should I put money in someone's pocket when they treat me like this? I think they took company policy a little too far."

Adrienne P. Samuels can be reached at asamuels@globe.com.