15 Arrested After Alleged $40 Wawa Theft in Florida as Sheriff Says They ‘Found Out’
A Florida convenience store theft investigation ended with 15 people arrested after deputies said a group of adults and juveniles coordinated the alleged theft of food and drinks from a Wawa in Davenport.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said 12 adults and three juveniles were taken into custody after employees reported seeing suspects conceal merchandise and consume items without paying.
A 16th person was later arrested separately after deputies said he interfered with the investigation.
According to investigators, employees at the Wawa on Old Lake Wilson Road contacted authorities on June 26 after observing the group moving throughout the store and hiding bottled drinks and food inside their clothing.
Deputies said the suspects appeared to know one another and arrived in three vehicles: a BMW, a Tesla, and a Honda Accord.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects allegedly took turns entering and leaving the store over approximately 15 minutes.
Investigators said some individuals consumed the stolen items inside the store, while others helped conceal the thefts by blocking employees’ views as accomplices took merchandise, WTSP reported.
Deputies said surveillance footage later obtained from the store showed what they described as coordinated thefts.
When deputies arrived, the suspects were still in the parking lot preparing to leave, according to authorities.
Deputies detained the group, recovered some of the merchandise that had not been consumed, collected empty bottles and packaging, and interviewed those involved.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd criticized the alleged actions, saying the suspects treated the store as though they could take whatever they wanted without paying.
“This is a classic case of people who came to our county, fooled around, and found out,” Judd said. “Now they’re all facing charges because they found it perfectly acceptable to go into the Wawa, grab what they wanted, and consume it without paying for it.”
