A Leesburg woman was arrested on a warrant Wednesday for stealing $582 in merchandise from Lowe’s.
On the morning of July 9, officers with the Leesburg Police Department responded to Lowe’s, located at 9540 U.S. Hwy. 441, Leesburg, regarding retail theft, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County. The theft occurred on June 16, and a loss prevention associate suspected 56-year-old Rosa Lee Taylor.
The associate explained a pushout theft happened around 2:50 p.m. June 16. Taylor had come into the store through the garden center with an empty shopping cart. She immediately made her way to the electrical department where she selected two indoor/outdoor 50ft LED rope lights worth $29.98 each, the affidavit said.
Taylor then went to the appliances department where she selected various cleaning supplies, such as Tide, Gain and Downy products, as well as a misting fan kit and a BT speaker. She brought all $582 in merchandise toward the main entrance and left the store without making any attempt to pay, the affidavit said.
The associate knew Taylor from past retail thefts involving the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Wildwood Police Department and the LPD. A deputy with the SCSO was able to identify her from a recent arrest on similar charges, the affidavit said.
A criminal history check revealed Taylor had five previous theft convictions. She was also out on bond at the time for petit theft (two or more prior convictions) in Lake County, the affidavit said.
Taylor was ultimately arrested Wednesday evening on a warrant charging her with petit theft (two or more convictions). She was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $2,500.
She was also arrested in Sept. 2024 after police chased her down with a steak stolen from Publix in her purse and in June 2024 for stealing baby clothes from Target.