A Leesburg man was arrested more than six months after he wore a dress into a beauty supply store and stole a wig off a mannequin.
Nathan M. Wilder, 39, of 201 Mike St., was charged last week with second-degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense) in connection with the theft from Holly’s Beauty Supply, located 1315 S. 14th St.
The reporting party told a Leesburg police officer on Jan. 17 that a black male who was dressed as a female came in with a female. She said the male took a red wig off a display and concealed it on his person, according to the police report.
The reporting party didn’t know the male’s name but said he has been shopping at the location for about 10 years and she could easily identify him if needed. The wig was valued at $75.99. The reporting party said she was going to email surveillance video to the officer, but she was unable to because of technical difficulties, the report said.
The officer was called to the store again on May 16. The employee said the suspect came into the store but promptly left when confronted about the previous theft. The officer stopped the suspect in the parking lot and identified him as Wilder. A criminal background check showed he was on probation for retail petit theft. The officer looked at the original report and there weren’t enough suspect descriptors to arrest Wilder, so he was given a trespass warning, according to the report.
The reporting party told the officer she knew Wilder was the person who stole the wig. She said she was finally able to get the surveillance footage. The officer viewed five different videos that showed a black male wearing a brown coat, black leggings and black boots with longer length blonde and brown hair. The reporting party signed a sworn affidavit that Wilder was the person who stole the wig, the report said.
A warrant was issued for Wilder and he was arrested on Saturday. He’s being held in the Lake County Jail on $2,000 bond and will appear in Lake County Court on Aug. 22.
