LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was arrested in connection with a string of thefts that occurred over several months at multiple Publix stores in Lakeland.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation was launched in Nov. after a manager at Publix was alerted to several thefts that occurred at their store.
An affidavit said that Publix’s loss prevention contacted authorities, who learned that beginning in April 2025, a suspect had been captured on surveillance video using the hand scanner at self-checkouts to scan cheaper packet items before proceeding to exit the store with additional items he had not paid for…