A homeless man, 32-year-old Joshua Galarza, was arrested after stealing a credit card from an unlocked vehicle in The Villages and using it for fraudulent purchases. The victim, a 77-year-old woman, discovered her “Las Vegas” tote bag, containing her iPhone, driver’s license, and credit card, was missing after she and her husband returned from a dinner outing at Beef O’ Brady’s.
Upon checking her credit card, she found five unauthorized purchases, including items bought at a nearby 7-Eleven and Walmart. Surveillance footage from the stores identified Galarza as the person who made the illicit purchases using the stolen credit card.
On Wednesday, around 11:30 a.m., the woman’s phone pinged at Colony Plaza, prompting the sheriff’s office to investigate further. A deputy located Galarza in the parking lot with the stolen tote bag and credit card in his possession. The victim arrived at the scene and confirmed the stolen items.
Galarza was arrested on charges of burglary and fraud and was taken to the Sumter County Detention Center, where he was initially held without bond. The investigation continues as authorities address this case of theft and fraud involving a homeless individual in The Villages.
