It wasn’t a one-time mistake.
According to deputies, the same man allegedly walked into Lowe’s on three consecutive days, filled store shopping bags with merchandise, and simply walked out without paying.
By the time it was over, investigators say nearly $750 worth of merchandise had disappeared.
Deputies were called after Lowe’s Asset Protection in South Point completed an internal investigation into a string of thefts that all followed nearly the same playbook.
According to the report, surveillance footage showed a man entering the store empty-handed before heading directly to departments containing higher-value merchandise.
On each occasion, investigators say he selected multiple items, carried them to the Outdoor Lawn and Garden area, and placed the merchandise into Lowe’s shopping bags himself.
From there, deputies say he walked straight out the exit, passing every register without making any attempt to pay.
The incidents occurred over three consecutive days at the South Point Lowe’s.
According to Asset Protection, the first theft involved two items worth $183.98.
The following day, investigators say the suspect returned and allegedly stole four more items valued at $195.94.
Not satisfied, the report says he came back a third day.
During that trip, deputies say he selected merchandise from multiple departments before once again bagging the items himself and walking out the door.
That final theft totaled $367.96.
Altogether, investigators say the three thefts resulted in $747.88 in stolen merchandise.
Rather than relying on a single security camera, Lowe’s investigators reviewed surveillance footage from all three incidents.
According to the report, the same suspect, vehicle, and method appeared in each case.
The investigating deputy reported recognizing the suspect from previous encounters and was able to identify him.
Investigators also traced the vehicle’s Ohio license plate to its registered owner before reviewing publicly available social media information, where they reportedly found the vehicle owner listed in a relationship with the suspect.
Lowe’s provided deputies with surveillance footage from each theft on three separate discs, along with detailed inventories showing every item allegedly taken and its value.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Retail Theft Isn’t Just About What’s Stolen
Retailers increasingly rely on surveillance cameras, license plate information, transaction records, and social media to investigate repeat thefts.
While an individual theft may involve only a few hundred dollars, repeated incidents can quickly raise the total value of stolen merchandise, potentially leading to more serious criminal charges than a single shoplifting offense.
Many large retailers also build cases over multiple incidents before turning them over to law enforcement.