A homeless woman in Clermont was arrested after claiming the items she stole from Publix were free because she fixed pipes under the store.
An officer responded to Publix, located at 250 Citrus Tower Blvd., regarding a woman hiding items in recycled bags around 3:35 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Clermont Police Department. The caller was familiar with this woman, later identified as 36-year-old Megan Rose Brown, due to previous theft calls.
The officer called the complainant for updates on where Brown was located. She advised that Brown had left the store, passing all points of sale, and was walking in the parking lot. She also described Brown along with the bags and purse she was carrying, the report said.
Another officer found Brown on the side street of Publix. He confirmed she matched the description given by the complainant, and the other officer arrived to do the same. Brown was told to lay the bags on the ground so they could speak with her, the report said…