LAKELAND, Fla. — Andrew Sylvester, 42, from Central Florida, was arrested earlier this month after committing two thefts within just 15 minutes. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a retail theft in progress at the Publix store located at 5185 US 98 South in Lakeland at approximately 6:20 p.m..
Upon arrival, deputies found Sylvester outside the store, pushing a shopping cart filled with $243.92 worth of groceries that he had not paid for. A store employee informed deputies that this was actually the second cart of stolen items Sylvester had taken in a very short span. He had stolen a second cart, worth $206.10, only about 10 minutes earlier.
In total, Sylvester stole $450.02 worth of groceries in a matter of minutes.
Sylvester’s criminal history includes five prior retail theft convictions. He was taken into custody and transported to the Polk County Jail, where he faces two felony charges of retail theft.
Local authorities continue to address retail theft in the area, and Sylvester’s arrest highlights the ongoing efforts to curb such crimes in Central Florida.