Man Faked Heart Attack at Walmart to Steal Barbie Car: Police
A Florida man allegedly faked having a heart attack inside a Walmart store to allow his accomplice to make off with almost $400 worth of toys, including a motorized Power Wheels Barbie car.
According to police, 30-year-old Tarus Scott and 27-year-old Genard Dupree were captured on surveillance video walking through the Walmart store in Lake Wales, Florida, filling a cart with items. As the two approached the store's exit, Dupree reportedly began clutching his chest as if he was suffering a heart attack, reports Tampa's WFLA-TV.
As other shoppers rushed to Dupree's aid, Scott took the opportunity to make his way out of the store with a cart full of expensive toys without paying.
Surveillance Footage Shows Quick Recovery
As shown on the surveillance video obtained by WFLA (and embedded below), once Scott was out of the store, Dupree made a quick recovery, standing up and walking out on his own. Police say the men then left together in the same car following the incident.
Along with the toy Barbie car, Dupree and Scott also reportedly made off with a LeapFrog tablet and a Barbie vacation home play set. The stolen items were valued at $369.
Charged With Grand Theft
After being positively identified and arrested a short time later, both men were charged with grand theft. Under Florida's theft laws, the theft of property valued between $300 and $20,000 qualifies as grand theft in the third degree.
Third-degree grand theft is considered a felony of the third degree. A third-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of as much $5,000. In addition, a defendant may be ordered to pay restitution, which are payments made by the perpetrator of a crime to the victim of that crime.
Both Dupree and Scott have prior criminal records, and Scott was recently released after serving 10 years in prison, reports Orlando's WKMG-TV. In Florida, as in other states, prior convictions may in some cases result in enhanced criminal sentences for subsequent offenses under the state's habitual offender laws.
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