An Ocala man is accused of stealing from Wal-Mart after employees from neighboring businesses reported seeing him running away with a stolen printer.
Germontrae Francis Graham, 23, of 31 Pine Trace Place, was charged with petit theft (third or subsequent offense) after he was apprehended shortly after noon Thursday several blocks away from the store, which is located at 2699 SW 19th Ave. Road.
Graham told an Ocala Police officer he didn’t originally intend to steal the $49 printer, but after realizing he was low on funds, he took it with the intent to sell it for money to buy groceries.
An employee at the Ocala Infectious Disease and Wound Center, located directly behind the store, said she saw Graham run past her window carrying a white box with green writing and a black security device on it. She said she recognized the security device on the box and concluded Graham stole it from Wal-Mart, according to the OPD report.
An employee at Twin Pal Orthopedics said Graham walked into the business, carried the box into the bathroom, and then left with the box. Using her cell phone, she recorded video of Graham entering the business and provided it to the officer. The officer searched the bathroom and found the black security device in the trash can, the report said.
A loss-prevention employee at Wal-Mart confirmed the printer was from the store and allowed the officer to view surveillance video, which showed Graham taking the printer, walking to the employee door and then out the rear fire exit door and past all points of sale without paying. The video showed him running up the grassy hill directly behind the hill with the printer and disappearing out of sight, according to the report.
Because Graham has two prior theft convictions, he was charged with a felony and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he was released Friday on $2,000 bond.