An elderly suspect was arrested for a string of retail thefts in Central Florida.
The elderly Lakeland man who was suspected of a string of retail thefts over months was arrested by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect was accused of committing retail thefts at two Polk County Walmart stores on 11 different dates over the course of months, according to law enforcement. The total value of his thefts is about $1,000, but the Sheriff’s office was still investigating.
According to local law enforcement, 74-year-old Saad Abouelala had a warrant for his arrest for Multiple Retail Thefts and Defraud to Obtain Property.
A PCSO deputy spotted Saad’s silver 2016 Kia Sorrento on Fitzgerald Road in Lakeland last month. Rather than conducting a traffic stop at that time and risking a vehicle pursuit, the deputy held off and radioed additional units.
Once backup arrived, a traffic stop was performed in the area of Francis Pipkin Road at Emerald Cove Loop, according to local law enforcement. The vehicle was blocked-in and he was taken into custody without incident and was booked-in at the Sheriff’s Processing Center on his warrant.
