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, according to The Blaze.
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.
The sheriff’s office said all 15 theft suspects admitted to taking the items.
The stolen merchandise included Calypso drinks, Brisk iced tea, a bag of Cheetos, and ramen soup, with a total estimated value of about $40, according to Tampa Free Press.
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.”
The 12 adult suspects were taken to the Polk County Jail, while three juveniles were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center, officials said.
All 15 suspects face charges of petit theft and tampering with evidence, while the adults also face charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Authorities said additional charges were filed against some individuals, including probation violations and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after deputies allegedly found drugs in one of the vehicles.
During the investigation, deputies said an unrelated individual approached the scene and began yelling at the theft suspects, telling them not to cooperate with law enforcement.
Authorities identified the man as 18-year-old Jayden Murphy of Pomona Park and said he refused repeated requests to move away from deputies while they were conducting the investigation.
Deputies said Murphy was standing about 17 feet away from officers and was arrested under Florida’s “Halo Law,” which establishes a 25-foot buffer zone around active law enforcement officers and other first responders.
Officials said Murphy was charged with two counts of harassing first responders and two counts of resisting arrest.
Officials said the suspects were from other parts of Florida and had been lodging at an Airbnb during their time in Polk County.
The case remains pending, and all individuals charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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