PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A man was arrested Tuesday after being accused of stealing nearly $2,500 worth of groceries from two different Publix grocery stores in four different thefts.
David Taylor, 40, filled his cart and tried to walk out four different times, Pinellas County deputies say. He was confronted and ran away without the groceries each time, the arrest affidavits show.
Deputies say he first attempted to steal around $600 worth of groceries on April 9 at the Publix located on Gulf Boulevard. He was seen leaving Publix on a PSTA bus, deputies say, and a deputy pulled over the bus. But, investigators say he ran away after that happened.
Taylor is accused of returning to the same Publix Monday to try to steal $809.59 worth of products such as food, razors, lamb, and fusion cartridges. He was seen running through the parking lot after a manager/witness asked him to stop, the affidavit says.
He came back to the same Publix on Gulf Boulevard Tuesday and tried to take $601.68 worth of groceries, deputies say. He left on a PTSA bus, leaving the groceries and his personal belongings behind, according to the affidavit.
Taylor is accused of trying to steal $524.78 worth of groceries from the Publix located on Pasadena Avenue South the same day. He ran away when he was confronted by a manager in the parking lot, abandoning the shopping cart, deputies say.
Deputies say they caught up to Taylor a block away, and he was arrested for obstruction. He was identified by two Publix employees as the suspected Publix thief, and security camera also captured him on video, authorities say.
Taylor faces multiple charges for grand theft, resisting arrest without violence, and retail theft.
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