An 82-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing a purse that a shopper left on a bench outside a Publix grocery store in The Villages.
Ronald Russell Hawk, who resides in the neighboring Stonecrest 55+ community in Summerfield, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon when he returned to the scene of the crime at the Publix located in the Spanish Plaines shopping center.
The incident began on Monday afternoon when a 67-year-old woman and her friend finished their grocery shopping. According to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the woman sat down on a bench near the store’s outdoor propane tanks, set her purse down, and briefly walked away. When she returned a few minutes later, the purse had vanished.
Hawk, a New York native, was quickly identified as the prime suspect after deputies reviewed the store’s surveillance footage.
The video captured the victim leaving her purse behind. A short time later, at about 2:42 p.m., Hawk pulled into the parking lot driving a Ford utility vehicle equipped with a front license plate and a distinctive orange flag on the roof. Footage showed him exiting his vehicle empty-handed, walking over to the bench, and returning to his vehicle carrying a white bag that contained a dark object matching the stolen purse. He then placed the item in his vehicle and drove off.
The stolen purse was described as a small, Western-style tan leather bag with peeling around the zipper. According to the victim, it contained a significant haul valued at $920, including:
- $400 to $500 in mixed cash
- A Samsung Galaxy cell phone with a custom-painted case
- A Vystar credit card
- Humana and Medicare insurance cards
- Various doctor’s paperwork and her driver’s license
The case broke wide open on Wednesday when a detective spotted Hawk back at the same Publix on Bella Cruz Drive. Hawk was taken into custody without incident and transported to the sheriff’s office in Wildwood. After waiving his Miranda rights, he spoke with detectives and reportedly admitted to being present at the scene.
Hawk was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on a felony charge of theft of $300 to $10,000 from a person 65 years of age or older. He was being held on $2,500 bond.