Leesburg woman jailed in theft of $250 in baby clothes from Target

A Leesburg woman was arrested last week on a petit theft warrant regarding the alleged theft of over $250 worth of baby clothes from Target.

Rosa Lee Taylor, 55, was brought into the Lake County Sheriff’s Office last week for her alleged involvement with the theft in late April.  

On the night of May 26, an officer with the Mount Dora Police Department responded to Target, located at 17450 U.S. Hwy. 441, regarding a retail theft complaint that happened on April 23, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake Count. 

Upon arrival, the officer met the complainant who was an Asset Protection Associate with Target and whom the officer knew from previous law enforcement encounters. He provided a sworn written affidavit and verbal testimony, expressing intent to prosecute on behalf of Target, the affidavit said. 

Around 7:27 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, the APA and other asset protection employees were reviewing in-store video surveillance. The APA observed three suspicious females selecting various items and placing them into their shopping carts. One of the suspects, later identified as Taylor, was seen concealing unpaid baby clothing items into an unpurchased black diaper bag, the affidavit said. 

Taylor then walked toward the service desk with the black diaper bag concealing the items. While employees were confronting one of the suspects inside the store, Taylor took the diaper bag with all the baby clothing items and left the store around 7:55 p.m. After viewing the video footage, it was evident that Taylor knowingly and intentionally concealed the items and passed all points of sale without rendering payment, the affidavit said. 

According to the affidavit, Taylor stole following items worth $268.99: a 7AM Enfant Diaper Bag, a Little Planet Bodysuit, two Bath Towel C Loud Island Truewcots, two Gerber White Newborns, five Cloud Island Coordinate Sets, three Cloud Island Black 0-3M, and two Carter’s JOY Coordinate Set. 

The officer collected a still shot of Taylor, an itemized receipt of stolen goods and a USB drive containing video surveillance footage of the theft. These items were collected and later submitted as evidence at the MDPD, the affidavit said. 

The APA also provided a possible name for Taylor, which he obtained through other Target locations. The officer conducted a search using Taylor’s name through an agency-issued system which returned with a local file. He cross-referenced the driver’s license number which returned with a female who bore a striking resemblance to the woman observed in video surveillance, the affidavit said. 

The officer then generated photo lineup later to be administered to Target asset protection employees. On May 16, he responded to Target to do so with one of the witnesses, a loss prevention employee who was present on the day of the theft and had the best view of Taylor, the affidavit said. 

The officer read the witness instructions, which she understood by signing a document. After opening the photo lineup, she took her time looking at each photo. She then asked if she could see a picture of the suspect to jog her memory, but the officer refused the request. She eventually chose photo #3, saying she hoped she made the right choice. Photo #3 was of Taylor, the affidavit said. 

Additionally, Lake County dispatch conducted a criminal history check on Taylor for prior guilty convictions for theft, however they found none, the affidavit said. 

Taylor was ultimately arrested on the night of Wednesday, June 5, by the Leesburg Police Department. She was charged with a Lake County warrant for petit theft (more than $100 less than $750). She was released from Lake County Jail after posting $500 bond.