A suspected shoplifter has been arrested in 10 scanning switch-a-roos at Target at Trailwinds Village in Wildwood.
Juan Carlos Quevedo Ferrer, 46, of Wildwood, will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following his arrest Sunday by Wildwood police. The arrest report did not disclose Quevedo Ferrer’s nationality, but noted that he does not speak English. He had a Florida temporary driver’s license.
A manager at Target contacted police after reviewing surveillance and finding 10 instances in which Quevedo Ferrer used the self-checkout lane and purchased merchandise. However, each of the 10 times he scanned a lower priced item, usually a packet of taco seasoning, rather than the higher priced item. He committed the thefts between Nov. 10 and March 24. The total value of the thefts was $181.
An officer tracked down Quevedo Ferrer’s silver 2009 Toyota 4Runner on Sunday at his home. The officer checked the hood of the vehicle and found that it was warm, indicating it had been driven recently. The officer spotted a package of taco seasoning on the passenger side floorboard of the truck.
When interviewed with the help of a language line through the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Quevedo Ferrer said the Target incidents “must be a misunderstanding” and claimed he “did not steal anything.”
The report also noted that Quevedo Ferrer “shaved and changed his clothes in an attempt to conceal his identity” prior to the officer knocking on his door.