A Leesburg man was arrested for retail theft when a fellow Walmart employee caught him stealing food on surveillance footage.
Officers responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., regarding a retail theft around 11:50 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department. Loss prevention officers had an employee, later identified as 20-year-old Richard Nicholas Trumm, detained for internal theft.
Upon arrival, contact was made with loss prevention in their office, but there was no one detained. An officer asked where Trumm was, and an employee advised that he was in the back of the business with another manager, the report said.
In an interview, a loss prevention officer stated that while researching overnight transactions, he came across multiple events involving Trumm. He had not been paying for items, the report said.
On Nov. 24, Trumm was observed on video surveillance during his shift. He approached the self-checkout area with a drink and a Slim Jim in his hand, but he only scanned and paid for the drink. He left the area without paying for the $3.32 Slim Jim at any point during his shift, the report said.
The loss prevention officer further explained that a store manager contacted Trumm to speak with him about the events prior to law enforcement’s arrival on Dec. 21. He then informed the manager that police were on scene and needed to see Trumm. However, Trumm had stepped out of the area to go to the bathroom, the report said.
As the loss prevention officer checked the surveillance cameras, Trumm was observed getting on his bicycle inside the business, riding through the store and leaving through the main entrance. His description, including the blue Walmart vest he had on, was given to the LPD dispatch and other officers in the area, the report said.
While on scene, an officer reviewed the surveillance footage from Nov. 24. Trumm scanned only the drink in his hand, not the Slim Jim. He was never seen paying for the food, the report said.
Trumm was arrested the following day at his residence, located at 2615 Industrial St., on charge of petit retail theft (less than $750). He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.