A Fruitland Park man was arrested after trespassing at Walmart to steal over $55 in food and clothing items.
An officer responded to Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., regarding 57-year-old Richard McCreary concealing items in a bag inside the store around 1:50 p.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
Upon arrival, the officer met with a loss prevention employee at the grocery exit. The employee was trying to stop McCreary who was currently walking out of the store without paying for the items in a blue bag. He appeared not to be complying with their instruction to stop and was detained in handcuffs, the report said.
The employee advised that McCreary picked multiple food-related items and clothing from the store. He then put them in the bag he came into the store with and passed all points of sale without paying for them. He had a total of 11 items worth $55.59, the report said.
The employee also provided security footage of McCreary concealing the items. The footage along with a receipt detailing the items that were stolen were taken as evidence, the report said.
A check of McCreary’s name showed he had been trespassed from the store on May 5, 2024, for theft. He also had 21 prior convictions for theft spanning from Feb. 1994 to Oct. 2024, the report said.
McCreary was subsequently arrested on charges of retail theft (two or more prior theft) and trespass after warning. He was transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting $3,500 bond.
The Indiana native was also arrested in July 2018 and April 2024 for stealing from Lowe’s.