Michael Panorelli bought $117 worth of lumber at a Home Depot store in Massachusetts, using a borrowed pencil to mark the wood he was buying. He then accidentally walked out the door with the pencil in his pocket. He was pursued by a security guard and asked to return the pencil, which he cheerfully surrendered. The Home Depot staff then handed Panorelli a form letter banning him from entering any of their stores for a year, because of his “theft.”

“They told me the pencil was worth money to the store and I was stealing it and I’m barred from the store because of that pencil,” said Panorelli, showing no remorse.

“Big commotion for one stupid pencil — a used pencil,” said a friend of his, who may have been an accomplice.

After some news exposure and a public outcry, Home Depot has apologized and lifted the ban, but Panorelli has no plans to return. (via Wizbang)