A man with five prior theft convictions was arrested after pulling off two daring grocery thefts in just 15 minutes—both at the same store.
Photo by Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On the evening of Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 42-year-old Andrew Sylvester was apprehended by Polk County Sheriff’s deputies outside a Publix in Lakeland, caught red-handed with a shopping cart filled with over $240 worth of groceries he hadn’t paid for. However, this was not his first hit of the night.
According to store employees, Sylvester had already wheeled out an earlier cart worth over $200 just ten minutes prior, bringing his total haul to a staggering $450 in stolen goods in under 15 minutes.
Sylvester, who has a long rap sheet of theft convictions, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of retail theft.