Man steals HDTV through fire exit for cash and crack, police say

DESTIN – A 42-year-old man placed a 32 inch HDTV in his cart and walked out the fire exit at a Target, setting off the fire alarm.

The deputy arrived at the store on Nov. 3 and spoke with a loss prevention officer about a white male stealing two televisions and two DVD players on three different dates, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Sanford Andrew Burgess, was identified through another retail theft investigation at Walmart.

On Oct. 8, Burgess stole an HDTV, according to the report. On Nov. 1, Burgess stole another television, and the next day he took two portable DVD players. He left through a fire exit all three times.

According to another arrest report, Anthony Carter was spotted waiting in a red GMC in the parking lot near the rear of the store. After the GMC was gone from the Target, another deputy spotted the vehicle and stopped it. Carter was driving and Burgess was in the passenger seat, with stolen merchandise in plain view.

In an interview with the deputy, Burgess said he tried to take property from Target in order to obtain cash and crack cocaine, the report said. When Carter told Burgess he had been spotted by law enforcement, Burgess said “let’s try to get away from them anyway.”

Burgess has two prior convictions for theft, the report said. Burgess is charged with two counts of grand theft and petit theft with two or more prior convictions, and Carter is charged with principle to grand theft. Both are scheduled to appear in court Jan. 5.