The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man for stealing more than $8,000 worth of jewelry from a Walmart store in Tampa.
On November 14, 2024, detectives with HCSO's Organized Retail Theft Unit launched an investigation after receiving reports of stolen jewelry from the Walmart located at 6192 Gunn Highway in Tampa.
Through investigative efforts, detectives determined that on November 5, 2024, Mark Anthony Vega, 33, concealed $7,110 worth of jewelry in his backpack and exited the store without paying. Further investigation revealed that Vega had also stolen $1,643 worth of jewelry from the same Walmart on October 21, 2024.
Vega later admitted to selling the stolen jewelry to multiple pawn shops.
Mark Anthony Vega is facing the following charges:
- Retail Theft – $750 or More
- Dealing in Stolen Property (x4)
- False Information on a Pawnbroker Form – Over $300 (x4)
"This arrest sends a clear message that retail theft will not be tolerated in Hillsborough County," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Thanks to the hard work of our detectives, we were able to recover the stolen items and put an end to this suspect's illegal activities."
This is an active investigation; any updates will come from the Public Affairs Office.
