Florida man nabbed for allegedly stealing Mountain Dew, 2 cases of beer from Walmart
Thomas Watts was arrested and charged with second-degree petit theft on April 27, 2024. (Photo: Sumter County Detention Center)
LADY LAKE, Fla. - A Florida man has found himself behind bars after he allegedly stole two cases of beer and a bottle of Mountain Dew from Walmart.
Thomas Watts, 50, was arrested and charged with larceny petit theft in the second degree after the incident that unfolded at the Walmart on Wedgewood Lane in Lady Lake on Saturday evening, according to an arrest affidavit from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
A loss prevention officer caught Watts allegedly grabbing a case of Heineken, a case of Corona and a 20-ounce bottle of Mountain Dew into his shopping cart and leaving the store without paying. Before leaving, however, Watts reportedly looked around the exit to see if any Walmart employees were nearby, the affidavit said.
Florida mom arrested after sons walk mile to Walmart on 436 alone: deputies
He walked out into the parking lot and loaded the stolen drinks into a white truck and left the area, deputies said.
A Sumter County sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on the white truck on Highway 466 and saw the stolen items in the back seat, according to the affidavit.
The total value of the stolen drinks was nearly $60.
2 Florida women with the same name nabbed for stealing at Walmart self-checkout, deputies say
Watts has one previous conviction for theft out of South Carolina in 2000, deputies said.
He was taken into custody at the Sumter County Detention Center, where he remains on $500 bond, records show.