NORTH NAPLES, Fla. — A Florida man was arrested Sunday on suspicion of using Kool-Aid packets to steal $994 worth of merchandise from a North Naples Walmart.
Bradley Young, 37, was charged with grand theft and shoplifting after Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies said he hid the powdered drink packets in his hand while scanning expensive items. In turn, each item he scanned at a self-checkout register rang up only 24 cents each, WBBH reported.
According to deputies, Young used his ruse to purchase:
• a $248 scooter
• a $119.87 dual navigation system
• $160 worth of batteries
In all, Young rang up three Kool-Aid packets along with a handful of other small items for a total of $24.44, but the actual value of the items taken was $994.13, WBBH reported.
A loss prevention worker at Walmart recognized Young from an August incident, followed him around the store and watched him in the self-checkout lane, WPEC reported.
The fraud specialist also said Young took a soda and fan from the store’s shelves and returned them at customer service after showing workers there a photo of a receipt on his phone, the TV station reported.
Young remains in custody with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and is listed as a convicted felon in Ohio, WBBH reported.