A 73-year-old Stonecrester has been banned from a store in The Villages after her third theft arrest in two years.
Last week in Lake County Court, Diane Silverman pleaded no contest to a felony charge of theft. She was placed on 18 months probation and banned from the Belk store at La Plaza Grande in The Villages, as well as all other Belk locations.
Silverman entered the store in January and selected merchandise, put it into a bag and took it into the restroom, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. She removed the security sensors, left them in the bathroom and attempted to leave the store. She was stopped by the store’s loss prevention officer.
The merchandise she attempted to steal was valued at $447 and included jewelry and clothing.
Silverman was arrested after attempting to steal items at Bealls in December. She was placed on probation for six months and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service.
Silverman had been arrested in 2016 in a suspected purse theft at a store at Lake Sumter Landing. Ultimately, the case was not prosecuted.