A Summerfield man was arrested for theft after loss prevention stopped him with $149 in stolen merchandise outside Walmart.
An officer responded to Walmart, located at 17961 S U.S. Hwy. 441, Summerfield, right as 41-year-old Matthew Allan Kibbey walked out of the store at 4:40 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s office. Right behind him was a loss prevention agent who stopped him in front of the store.
As the officer came closer to them, Kibbey placed an orange and green camo duffel bag on the ground in front of him. The agent had been following him through the store at the same time the loss prevention team monitored his activity through surveillance cameras. In tandem, they were able to identify what items were stolen, the report said.
The agent explained to Kibbey that the team just wanted their merchandise back, and they would try to help him out the best they could. Kibbey then apologized for taking the items and cooperated without resistance. His bag contained 14 miscellaneous things worth $149.72, ranging from a flashlight to hygiene and haircare products, the report said.
A subsequent check of his criminal history revealed two prior convictions for theft out of Marion County in 2023 and out of Sumter County in 2024, the report said.
Kibbey was arrested on charge of petit theft (third or subsequent offense) and transported to Marion County Jail. Bond was set at $5,000.
He was also arrested in May 2024 for the theft of $654 in merchandise from Walmart at Buffalo Ridge, in Feb. 2024 for unprescribed Viagra pills found in his possession and in June 2016 for a DUI charge.