LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland woman accused of attempting to steal nearly $1,700 worth of merchandise from a Tractor Supply store last month has been arrested after more than a month on the run.
41-year-old Shelly Mancini was taken into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, January 13th, following an investigation into the December 6th incident.
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According to the Sheriff’s Office, Mancini loaded up a shopping cart with 18 items, including a plasma cutter, clothes, toys, and two choke chains, and attempted to leave the store without paying. She was confronted by store employees, but managed to escape, leaving behind the merchandise and her purse.
Mancini’s purse, which contained her EBT card, provided deputies with a crucial lead in identifying and locating her.
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After numerous unsuccessful attempts to locate Mancini, deputies finally apprehended her on Monday. She was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on a charge of grand theft.
The Sheriff’s Office also revealed that Mancini is under investigation for a separate grand theft case in Sumter County.
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