Sheriff?s office asking public?s help in identifying shoplifter in The Villages

[The Gazette]

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook asking the public’s assistance in identifying a shoplifter. The post from the sheriff’s office reads: “(we know the pictures are not the best quality but we hope someone may be able to assist with the case.) On January 24, 2024, deputies responded to Walmart, located at 4085

More... (https://www.gazettenewsthevillages.com/sheriffs-office-asking-publics-help-in-identifying-shoplifter-in-the-villages/)

[Girlcopper]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft

[MSchad]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft
Reporting a crime and asking for help with investigation is wasted space? Sounds like the attitude that has and is crippling other areas.

[EMMRTA]

They go thru all this trouble for $200. Was this a first for this Walmart store?

[Joe C.]

With all the money that WalMart has, don't you think that they could afford to install some high resolution cameras?
Lousy cameras get lousy results.

[bragones]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft

Maybe if they catch the thieves and publish, others might think twice about commuting the crime. Doing nothing certainly isn't helping in other states.

[Frank&Debbie]

Absolutely correct!

[Dusty_Star]

Maybe if they catch the thieves and publish, others might think twice about commuting the crime. Doing nothing certainly isn't helping in other states.

You are right.

[Robojo]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft

You wouldn't think it's a waste if you were a business owner

[flower7330@gmail.com]

This the difference between FL and NY. I read an article where dozens of illegal aliens were stealing stuff from stores in NYC and coming to FL to spend the money. When someone asked them why they don't just steal in FL and spend it there they said because in FL they actually put you in jail.

[airstreamingypsy]

With all the money that WalMart has, don't you think that they could afford to install some high resolution cameras?
Lousy cameras get lousy results.

I agree, the car photo is hilarious...... my cheap home security camera is clearer.

[CosmicTrucker]

How can they determine what was taken and the value of such without high quality video proof?

[mikemalloy]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft
Walmart loses an aproximately 3 BILLION dollars a year from theft and who do you think has to pay higher prices because of the theft. Unfortunately for most of us it isn't only those who think it's only a misdemeanor theft.

[Dantes]

So if someone comes to your house and seals 200 dollars worth of your stuff you’re good with that and of course you won’t call the police and waste there time correct

[coleprice]

Maybe if they catch the thieves and publish, others might think twice about commuting the crime. Doing nothing certainly isn't helping in other states.

While DA's in the large cities of California, New York, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere refuse to prosecute theft, which has resulted in a crime spree putting many retailers out of business, Florida law enforcement ENFORCE THE LAW! We moved to The Villages from California, because California has transitioned from a 'wonderful place to live' to a 'dangerous, crime-ridden state" where criminals & the homeless rule the roost. We sincerely appreciate Florida Police & Sheriff's efforts that enforce the law, which keeps Florida a safe and wonderful place to live!

[ThirdOfFive]

While DA's in the large cities of California, New York, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere refuse to prosecute theft, which has resulted in a crime spree putting many retailers out of business, Florida law enforcement ENFORCE THE LAW! We moved to The Villages from California, because California has transitioned from a 'wonderful place to live' to a 'dangerous, crime-ridden state" where criminals & the homeless rule the roost. We sincerely appreciate Florida Police & Sheriff's efforts that enforce the law, which keeps Florida a safe and wonderful place to live!
Nailed it!

[EMMRTA]

You wouldn't think it's a waste if you were a business owner

I am a business owner. I would have done something with the first theft.

[blueash]

This the difference between FL and NY. I read an article where dozens of illegal aliens were stealing stuff from stores in NYC and coming to FL to spend the money. When someone asked them why they don't just steal in FL and spend it there they said because in FL they actually put you in jail.

Oh I so wish you would have posted a link to that article. It makes zero sense. You can spend the money in NY, spending is not a crime, or any state between NY and FL. Or you can spend it on the fuel you need to get from NY to FL.

[hvac877]

Thou shall not steal!!

[ThirdOfFive]

Thou shall not steal!!
Yeow! There are about a hundred or so replies to this, at least 90 of which would earn you an enforced "vacation" at the hands of the Thought Police! :)

Seriously though...while I agree strongly that people should not be stealing (and am very glad that the law enforcement in TV is so strongly proactive when it comes to enforcing anti-shoplifting laws), I seriously doubt that Wal-Mart will ever do more than it is doing right now. If they can make up the "shrinkage" shortfall by charging paying customers more, and as long as such theft is not affecting the bottom line, why should they?

[macawlaw]

I’m surprised the quality is not better. As an attorney working with youth in Ohio I received a lot of discovery from Walmart, including surveillance camera footage. You could easily make out faces. There were also good cameras in the parking lot that clearly showed vehicles and the license plates.

[Cobullymom]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft
I'm glad they are concerned with theft, and people don't have a free for all like in California and some other states. News flash WE ALL PAY FOR IT!

[Cobullymom]

Yeow! There are about a hundred or so replies to this, at least 90 of which would earn you an enforced "vacation" at the hands of the Thought Police! :)

Seriously though...while I agree strongly that people should not be stealing (and am very glad that the law enforcement in TV is so strongly proactive when it comes to enforcing anti-shoplifting laws), I seriously doubt that Wal-Mart will ever do more than it is doing right now. If they can make up the "shrinkage" shortfall by charging paying customers more, and as long as such theft is not affecting the bottom line, why should they?
Thought police? Most people get what the very simple comment meant, the response is when you need the "thought police"...smh

[Escape Artist]

While DA's in the large cities of California, New York, Oregon, Washington and elsewhere refuse to prosecute theft, which has resulted in a crime spree putting many retailers out of business, Florida law enforcement ENFORCE THE LAW! We moved to The Villages from California, because California has transitioned from a 'wonderful place to live' to a 'dangerous, crime-ridden state" where criminals & the homeless rule the roost. We sincerely appreciate Florida Police & Sheriff's efforts that enforce the law, which keeps Florida a safe and wonderful place to live!

I’m also from California but the good news for residents there is that there is a petition circulating to repeal Prop. 47 which is partly responsible for the rise in retail theft and crime. As you probably know, it has a provision which states that theft of anything under the amount of $950 is a misdemeanor. Therefore, not worth arresting anyone by overburdened police departments around the state.

I hope it makes it on the November ballot because I think it will pass easily. Everyone, regardless of their political persuasion, is sick of theft and retail crime in California and all the negative byproducts it has produced.

[PugMom]

You are right.

perhaps when they catch this person, it will show a long list of offenses :22yikes:

[Sensei]

This the difference between FL and NY. I read an article where dozens of illegal aliens were stealing stuff from stores in NYC and coming to FL to spend the money. When someone asked them why they don't just steal in FL and spend it there they said because in FL they actually put you in jail.

That's a very long commute! Thank goodness The Villages has gates to thwart the marauders.

[Remembergoldenrule]

Oh I so wish you would have posted a link to that article. It makes zero sense. You can spend the money in NY, spending is not a crime, or any state between NY and FL. Or you can spend it on the fuel you need to get from NY to FL.

Here are two links to story
CNN anchors momentarily silent after learning why migrant gangs don’t stay in Florida: ‘There you go to jail' (https://news.yahoo.com/cnn-anchors-momentarily-silent-learning-154500077.html)

Or

CNN anchors momentarily silent after learning why migrant gangs don’t stay in Florida: ‘There you go to jail''' | Fox News (https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-anchors-momentarily-silent-after-learning-why-migrant-gangs-dont-stay-florida-you-go-jail)

Or dozens more if you google it. Punishment for a crime is a deterrent.

[vinnytalk]

Good luck with that. I’m surprised they wasted space in the paper with a misdemeanor theft

Why is it wasted do we just let other steal at our expense, you break the law you get arrested and go to jail.

[fdpaq0580]

Why is it wasted do we just let other steal at our expense, you break the law you get arrested and go to jail.

We hope!

[fdpaq0580]

That's a very long commute! Thank goodness The Villages has gates to thwart the marauders.

YES! We are safe!

🙃

[fdpaq0580]

Thou shall not steal!!

Amen! 🙏

[fdpaq0580]

Anyone in favor of "3 strikes, your out"? Yes, even for my bil who steals the French fries of my plate!

[Remembergoldenrule]

Yeow! There are about a hundred or so replies to this, at least 90 of which would earn you an enforced "vacation" at the hands of the Thought Police! :)

Seriously though...while I agree strongly that people should not be stealing (and am very glad that the law enforcement in TV is so strongly proactive when it comes to enforcing anti-shoplifting laws), I seriously doubt that Wal-Mart will ever do more than it is doing right now. If they can make up the "shrinkage" shortfall by charging paying customers more, and as long as such theft is not affecting the bottom line, why should they?

They have closed stores in my home town when theft gets too high. Laying off hundreds of working people. Other stores then raise their prices due to no competition from Walmart. I know Walmart prosecutes in states where DA will prosecute. Shop lifting is not a harmless crime. Shop lifters need face plastered everywhere and jail time. If people need money to buy things they can get a job at Walmart. They are always hiring.

[fdpaq0580]

They have closed stores in my home town when theft gets too high. Laying off hundreds of working people. Other stores then raise their prices due to no competition from Walmart. I know Walmart prosecutes in states where DA will prosecute. Shop lifting is not a harmless crime. Shop lifters need face plastered everywhere and jail time. If people need money to buy things they can get a job at Walmart. They are always hiring.

My first choice in hiring is serial thieves. 😒

[ThirdOfFive]

They have closed stores in my home town when theft gets too high. Laying off hundreds of working people. Other stores then raise their prices due to no competition from Walmart. I know Walmart prosecutes in states where DA will prosecute. Shop lifting is not a harmless crime. Shop lifters need face plastered everywhere and jail time. If people need money to buy things they can get a job at Walmart. They are always hiring.
They are that.

Interesting, though...Wal-mart loses more to employee theft than it does to shoplifters. This, from gitnux dot org...

Employee theft accounts for an estimated 43% of Walmart's inventory shrinkage. Shoplifting accounts for 36% of Walmart's inventory shrinkage. Vendor fraud accounts for 5.4% of Walmart's inventory shrinkage. In a recent study, Walmart's average shrink rate was considered “medium” at 1.01%-1.99% of sales.

We rarely see articles in v i l l a g e s - n e w s (which publishes every negative thing about TV that they can find, chase down or dig up) about employee theft at the local Wal-Marts. They do publish the articles about shoplifting and shoplifters at Wal-Mart though. Does that mean that Wal-Marts in TV just take care of things internally when an employee is caught shoplifting? Or does it mean that the Wal-Marts here are just really really good at screening potential employees before they hire them?