A homeless shoplifter was arrested after he defied a ban at the Leesburg Walmart.
Richard Dale Martin, 37, was observed Tuesday on video surveillance placing assorted camping items in a shopping cart, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. He moved to an aisle at the rear of the store where he took several used Walmart plastic bags out of his pockets and put the items in the bags. Martin was stopped by loss prevention officers outside of the store. He was escorted to an office where he was placed under arrest by a Leesburg police officer.
The items taken by Martin were valued at $163.51. A records check showed that Martin had been arrested for retail theft at the Leesburg Walmart on July 13, 2021 at which time he was ordered not to return to the store.
The officer found a used syringe and glass pipe in Martin’s pockets when he was searched, the report said. Martin told the officer that he is a meth addict.
Martin was transported to the Lake County Jail where bond was set at $3,000. Martin has been arrested nine times for drug or theft charges in the last three years.
