MIAMI-DADE, FL – Douglas Berdayes, a 51-year-old Miami-Dade man, was arrested on Tuesday after being accused of repeatedly stealing high-priced wine from the same BJ’s Wholesale Club over several weeks.
The arrest follows a series of thefts dating back to November at the BJ’s location at 7007 Southwest 117th Avenue, according to Miami-Dade Police. Surveillance footage shows Berdayes leaving the store on November 13th with wine bottles valued at $365.35.
The thefts continued into December, with Berdayes stealing $649.12 worth of wine on December 5th, $580.72 on December 20th, and additional amounts totaling $300.15 and $294.96 on December 26th and December 30th, respectively.
On Tuesday, store employees called authorities to report a shoplifting incident. Officers quickly located Berdayes in the parking lot, but he fled on foot towards a nearby CVS, discarding wine bottles along the way. Police apprehended him shortly after.
In addition to the current theft, authorities confirmed that Berdayes had stolen three bottles of wine worth $237.97 that day after removing security devices.
Berdayes has been charged with retail theft, petty theft, attempting to use an anti-shoplifting device, and resisting an officer without violence. He was booked into jail and appeared in court on Wednesday, where his bond was set at $3,650, with an order to stay away from BJ’s Wholesale Club.
