A Lady Lake man was arrested after trying to steal $31 in food from a Target in The Villages.
An officer responded to Target at Rolling Acres Plaza regarding theft around 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department. Loss prevention agents had 42-year-old James Derrick Bolen detained for skip scanning items.
Loss prevention recognized Bolen as a repeat offender from several previous thefts. That day, they watched through security cameras as he picked up mainly food and took it to self-checkout. He twice scanned a cheaper item to substitute for more expensive milk, the report said.
He was then stopped by loss prevention and escorted back to their office. The employees recovered $31.07 in stolen merchandise, the report said.
Bolen stated it was an accident and that he forgot to scan the items, but he did the same thing on eight different occasions. A check of his criminal history found one prior conviction for felony larceny in Cape Coral on July 17, 2013, the report said.
Bolen was arrested on charge of petit theft (second or subsequent offense). He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $1,000 bond.
He was also arrested earlier this month for allegedly trying to steal ice cream.