Detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department conducted a two-day operation recently targeting suspects involved in retail theft crimes.
With the cooperation of Wal-Mart and their loss prevention personnel, the two law enforcement agencies worked together on April 4 and 5 to help reduce retail theft in Marion County.
After being observed committing retail theft crimes by loss prevention personnel and undercover detectives, 39 people were arrested with a combined total of 39 felony charges and 46 misdemeanor charges, a sheriff’s office report states.
During the operation, as individuals were apprehended for theft, detectives conducted interviews with the suspects to determine if they were involved with any additional crimes in Marion County. Numerous individuals that were arrested also received charges for drug possession or had warrants for other crimes previously committed.