A suspected liquor thief has been arrested in the theft of hundreds of dollars worth of wine, champagne and other bottles of alcohol at Publix at Lake Deaton Plaza.
The man entered the store on July 10 and 12 and took the liquor from the store. Both times, the man put the bottles in a green bag and walked out without paying for it.
Surveillance images showed the suspect was wearing a shirt with a Spartan logo on the front and the word “Gladiator” on the back. On the second trip, the man used the ATM and a detective was able to track the credit card to Mid Florida Credit Union. The credit union identified the card holder as 59-year-old Steven Keith Ingrassia of the Peppertree Apartments in Wildwood.
Ingrassia went Thursday to the sheriff’s annex in The Villages. He said he made a mistake and offered to pay for the liquor.
A criminal history check revealed Ingrassia had a conviction of shoplifting in 1998 in New Jersey. He also has had numerous convictions for drug charges and robbery.
He was arrested on two charges of grand theft and petit theft and booked at the Sumter County Detention Center. Bond was set at $3,000.
