JAY — A local man was arrested Thursday after he was spotted on security video taking items from a shelf at Hannaford supermarket and turning them in for a refund, police Chief Larry White Sr. said Friday.
Michael Gatcomb
Sgt. Troy Young arrested Michael Gatcomb, 29, of Jay, on two counts of felony theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, White said.
They would have been misdemeanor charges but because of Gatcomb's lengthy criminal history, they are elevated to felonies, he said.
Gatcomb went to Hannaford in Jay with a female accomplice on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m., White said. He went to the health and beauty aisle and took two small boxes off a shelf and placed them under his coat, he said. A few minutes later, the female accomplice came into the store and took the items to the service desk and received a refund of $28.33 for them, he said.
Later in the day, Gatcomb was seen re-entering the store. He went to the health and beauty aisle and took some ladies' moisturizers and went up to the service counter and asked for a refund and received $53.53 on a gift card, he said.
The store's security got it on video, White said.
Young viewed the recording and recognized Gatcomb and the female. Young arrested him. The female was not charged as of Friday.
Gatcomb posted $400 cash bail the same day. He is scheduled to appear on March 22 in Franklin County Superior Court on Farmington.
Gatcomb has convictions for theft, assault, burglary, tampering with a witness and violation condition of release, according to court documents.
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Female leniency??
Why the hell hasn't the broad been charged already as well. She was as much a part of the scam as he.
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This guy and his girlfriend, seem to have a pretty good scheme going here. $80.00 in just a few minutes at Hannaford. They probably do this in many stores. I say this because, this guy posted $400.00 bail, I hope this was cash, not unsecured. After all this duo needs to start earning legal fee's and court cost. Even though this isn't the first time he's been caught, whats the incentive to stop while awaiting trial. They say "Crime doesn't pay", well it does if there is no consequences to getting caught. I mean $400.00 out of what this pair could make in a week, I'd say thats just a drop in the bucket, the rest is pure profit. I know that bail is just to guarantee his return to court, Would it hurt to also use bail to deter him from committing more crimes? I mean you can't very well shoplift from a jail cell......
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I AM SO GLAD THEY GOT CAUGHT. EVERYONE THAT STEALS BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO LAZY TO WORK AND GETS CAUGHT STEALING SHOULD GO TO JAIL. THE GIRL SHOULD OF BEEN ARRESTED TOO.
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