A 27-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly stole nearly $20,000 worth of items, including air guns, hoses, sensors, and a surveillance camera, from a car wash in Ocala.
On Tuesday, July 30, an Ocala Police Department officer was dispatched to the RaceWash car wash located at 2420 SW College Road in Ocala in reference to a theft incident. Upon arrival, a manager informed the officer that the following items had been stolen:
- 19 air guns ($1,900 value).
- 19 hoses ($1,900 value).
- Multiple electrical sensors ($15,000 value).
- A surveillance camera ($300 value).
The arrest report listed the total value of the stolen items at approximately $19,000.
The manager stated that video surveillance footage showed a man, later identified as Garrett Alton Bailey, arriving at the car wash in a white Ford Taurus shortly before 1:30 a.m. on July 30. He then allegedly began removing “all the air guns and hoses,” according to the report.
Bailey was then allegedly observed on the footage removing the electrical sensors before approaching an ice machine. After unsuccessfully attempting to “gain access to the inside of the machine,” Bailey allegedly stole a surveillance camera that faced the machine.
OPD launched an investigation into the theft incident, and a detective later spotted a white Ford Taurus at the Red Roof Inn located at 120 NW 40th Avenue. The detective approached the vehicle and observed “property from the car wash” that was “in plain view within the vehicle,” according to the report.
Bailey was then observed approaching the vehicle, and he was taken into custody. After being read his Miranda rights, the report stated that Bailey allegedly admitted to stealing several items from the car wash, which were “inside his Ford Taurus.”
During the post-Miranda interview, Bailey told investigators that he was “addicted to methamphetamine,” and he further claimed that he was “high” when the thefts were committed at the car wash, according to the report.
While Bailey allegedly admitted to the thefts, an officer noted in the report that Bailey was “unable to explain why he specifically stole the items” from the car wash.
Bailey was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on a $25,000 bond. He is being charged with grand theft, criminal mischief causing interruption of a business operation, and burglary of an unoccupied structure.
On Tuesday, September 3, Bailey is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m., according to jail records.