Ocala police officers arrested a Citra man and a St. Augustine woman Wednesday afternoon after loss prevention officers at an Ocala Wal-Mart reported a theft of multiple Blu-ray discs.
A loss prevention officer told deputies that he watched Thomas Leroy Cook, 56, and Dezarey B. Phillips, 25, select numerous Blu-ray discs and stack them in the front of their shopping cart. He said he then followed them to a different part of the store and watched them conceal the items inside a black purse or bag, the report says.
The two then exited the store through the garden section, the report says, adding that Cook lifted the bag into the air so it didn’t pass between two anti-theft devices at the exit.
Three loss prevention officers confronted Cook and Phillips and escorted them back into the store, located at 2600 SW 19th Ave. Rd. A short time later, a deputy arrived and counted 24 Blu-ray discs valued at $204.28 inside the black bag.
One of the loss prevention officers told deputies that she recognized the duo from another Wal-Mart where they were stopped for an attempted theft.
Cook and Phillips were transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with retail petit theft. It was the second offense for Phillips, who was held on $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court July 24 at 9 a.m. Thomas was held on $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court the same day at 8 a.m.
