An Ocala man, 38-year-old Jed Allen Appleton, was arrested for felony retail theft after attempting to leave a Walmart without paying for a SIM card hidden under his hat.
On Sunday at 12:20 p.m., an asset protection associate noticed Appleton taking items from the electronics department at Walmart on Citrus Blvd. Appleton moved through aisles, concealing merchandise in his hat. After selecting additional items in the sporting goods department, he paid for everything except the SanDisk Micro 512 GB SIM card valued at $39.98.
Appleton was stopped at the store exit and taken to the Loss Prevention Office. Police responding to the scene found he had two prior theft convictions, upgrading the charge to felony retail theft. He was taken to Lake County Jail, where his bond was set at $2,500.
