WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – If the pursuit of a $131.55 shoplifting suspect seems “petty,” then the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) is happy to wear the badge. Their persistence in a case dating back to February has resulted in a felony grand theft charge and the arrest of a man wanted in two other counties.
The incident occurred on February 23rd at the Family Dollar store on Recker Hwy in Winter Haven. A man, later identified as 36-year-old Glenn Westley Mathis of Orlando, allegedly stole merchandise valued at $131.55. A store employee followed the suspect out, managing to take photos of both the man and his vehicle.
The PCSO detective assigned to the case used those photographs to identify Mathis.
The investigation came to a head on October 30th when Mathis was booked into the PCSO Sheriff’s Processing Center for the crime. While the initial theft amount might suggest a simple misdemeanor, Mathis’s prior criminal history elevated the charge to a more serious level.
According to deputies, Glenn has been convicted of theft several times before, so this time, he qualified for the felony upgrade.
“That’s right, we charged him with Felony Petit Theft,” a PCSO representative stated on X.
The saga didn’t end there. Upon Mathis’s arrest, deputies learned he was also wanted in Osceola County and Seminole County.
READ: Biden Clemency Recipient From Georgia Arrested For Florida Bank Robbery, Kidnapping
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
