Deputies Arrest Brazen Thief During ‘Shop With A Cop’ Event At Florida Walmart

St. Cloud, FL – A not-terribly-observant criminal made a huge mistake when he decided to try to shoplift from a Walmart store while half the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office was there doing the department’s annual “Shop with a Cop” with community children.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said the incident occurred on Dec. 1 during the deputies’ annual Christmas shopping event held at the Walmart Superstore located in the 4400-block of 13th Street, WTVT reported.

There were 10 sheriff’s deputies, the OCSO Forensics Team, the community services team, and a large number of department officials at the big box store shopping with children in the community, according to the sheriff’s department.

Law enforcement officers inside the store spotted the suspect and saw him stealing merchandise as the deputies were escorting their pint-sized shopping buddies around the store, WTVT reported.

So, deputies stopped the suspect and took him into custody.

There was no shortage of extra hands to help make sure that the suspect’s attempt at thievery did not derail the children’s enjoyment of the ongoing event, and the Walmart shopping party that included the Grinch and Santa continued without disruption.

“Seriously we just can’t make this up,” the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office posted to its official Facebook page in a blurb that shared the unbelievable details.

“Brad decided to steal from our good neighbors and partners at Walmart in St. Cloud while we were conducting the Shop With a Cop event with the children of our community,” the sheriff’s post continued.

“Bad news, Brad! The store was full of deputies, almost 40, beside the forensics team, the community services team, the CSOs, the OCSO Majors, and Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez. Bad idea, Brad,” the sheriff’s department continued.

The sheriff also posted pictures of “Brad” in handcuffs in front of the Walmart store along with some pictures of the items thought he could steal right out from under the noses of half the county’s law enforcement team.

The suspect had stolen bolt cutters, gloves, and perfume, among other items, WTVT reported.