A 26-year-old employee at Target in The Villages was issued a citation Tuesday after being accused of stealing an Apple watch.
A loss prevention associate at the store, located at 716 N U.S. Hwy. 27/441, told a Lady Lake Police officer that while conducting an inventory on Sept. 13, she determined that four Apple watches were missing. She said she reviewed video from a surveillance camera and saw the employee, who lives in Center Hill, enter the stockroom shortly before 8 p.m. and select an Apple 4 Series watch valued at $499.99. A few minutes later the employee was seen entering a corner of the stockroom with an empty watch box and return without it. She was observed placing the watch on her wrist and then exiting the stockroom, the report says.
The loss prevention associate spoke with the employee on Tuesday and noted that she was wearing the watch. The employee admitted to stealing the band, valued at $39.99, that was attached to the watch. The total value of the theft was $538.99, the report says.
The loss prevention associate completed a sworn affidavit with intent to prosecute. She had already retrieved the watch and band prior to the officer’s arrival and provided a receipt showing the value of the items.
The employee was issued a misdemeanor citation. But the loss prevention associate declined to trespass her from the store, the report says.