Man ‘steals $481 from hardware store, then disguises himself by changing shirt and goes back to steal $800 more’

A SHOPPER allegedly left a store without paying for his items and returned on the same day to do it again, cops said.

Police in Palm Coast, Florida, around 50 miles south of Jacksonville, said the suspect made a change before he visited the location a second time.

The incident occurred at a home improvements store on the first block of Garden Street, according to the Observer Local News.

This shopper reportedly went to the location and filled his cart with items.

The value of these items was $481.

Police said he took plastic bags from his pockets and moved items from the cart into these bags.

The suspect then left the store with these bags but did not pay for the goods.

A loss prevention officer at the store reportedly watched the man put these items into his car, and the employee called Flager County Sheriff’s Office.

This employee also saw the man come into the store a second time on the same day.

They said the suspect changed and wore a different shirt on the second visit.

Another $800 worth of goods was reportedly taken on the second visit, according to a police report seen by the Observer Local News.

The loss prevention officer then held the man until cops arrived at the location.

This suspect was arrested and reportedly admitted that he stole the goods “out of stupidity,” according to the Observer Local News.

The U.S. Sun has previously reported on other alleged cases of theft from stores.

A Walmart employee was arrested after nearly $1,000 worth of goods went missing.

Shanti Gurung was charged with theft and accused of price switching.

The 18-year-old supposedly swapped price tags on goods and paid for them at self-checkout.

This meant she could have placed a cheaper tag on a more expensive item to pay a lower price.

The store’s asset protection team reported the incidents to cops and said it had reportedly been ongoing for months.

Officials in Los Angeles, California warned shoppers about a graduation season scam at some stores.

Fraudsters have allegedly recruited students to tell shoppers they need to pay $200 for their cap and gown.

Students have reportedly been contacted through social media and told they can keep half of the cash.