A 34-year-old man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of stealing a Toys for Tots donation box filled with cash from a store in Belleview.
On Thursday, December 8, an MCSO deputy responded to the Dollar General located at 13415 SE 47th Avenue in Belleview in reference to a retail theft incident.
Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a store manager who advised that on December 4, between 2:45 p.m. and 2:48 p.m., a white male suspect was seen sliding the Toys for Tots donation box, which was full of money, to the edge of the counter and then underneath a baby carrier that was in his shopping cart.
According to the MCSO report, the suspect was described as a white male with a beard, backwards gray hat, white tank top, grey shorts, black shoes, sunglasses on his hat, and a lanyard/necklace. On the store’s video surveillance footage, the suspect was seen at the self-checkout register with a woman who was scanning and bagging items.
MCSO contacted a representative from Toys for Tots who advised that the stolen donation box was valued at $50, and the representative added that there was “approximately $800 in various denominations” inside the box at the time of the theft.
On Saturday, December 10, an individual contacted MCSO with information regarding this theft incident. The reportee told MCSO that they had seen a news segment regarding the theft, which included video footage of the suspect, and the reportee advised that the suspect was William Thomas Smith.
According to the reportee, Smith resided on the 14000 block of SE 42nd Terrace in Summerfield and slept in the woods behind one of the residences.
On Monday, December 12, an MCSO corporal reviewed the theft case and watched the video surveillance footage from the store. The corporal conducted an in-house and internet search of Smith and was able to positively identify him as the suspect in this case due to his distinctive tattoos, according to the MCSO report.
Multiple MCSO units responded to the residence on SE 42nd Terrace in Summerfield and observed an empty tent to the north of the residence. A deputy and corporal made contact with a neighbor who viewed the store’s video surveillance footage, and the neighbor advised that the male suspect was Smith.
According to the MCSO report, a woman exited the residence that MCSO units had responded to, and she advised that Smith was not inside. She confirmed that Smith had come home from the Dollar General with money, but she stated that she had “no idea where he got it from.”
The corporal showed the woman the video surveillance footage from the time of the theft, and she confirmed that she had been at the store scanning multiple items at the self-checkout register. The MCSO report stated that she was reluctant to confirm Smith’s identity.
Smith then proceeded to exit the residence, according to the MCSO report. He was detained in handcuffs and transported to the MCSO South Multi-District Office for an interview.
After being read his Miranda rights, Smith was reluctant to admit to the theft of the donation box, though he advised that his child needed diapers. He told investigators that the box contained $18.63, and that the box was “in the trash” and he no longer knew where it was located.
Smith described the donation box to investigators, and he claimed that the store “got the money back” later that evening because he had returned to the store to purchase additional items with the money, according to the MCSO report.
A criminal history search of Smith revealed that he has two prior felony convictions in Bay County for grand theft of a motor vehicle and larceny.
Smith was placed under arrest and a pat-down search was conducted. During the search, a multi-colored glass pipe was located in Smith’s left front pocket, and it field-tested positive for the presence of marijuana.
Smith was transported to Marion County Jail where he is currently being held on $6,000 bond. He is facing a felony charge for second degree petit theft (third or subsequent offense) and a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.
An initial court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2023, and a second court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, according to jail records.