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Published on January 20, 2025
Suspected Serial Self-Checkout Scammer Nabbed for $11K Thefts at Santa Clara County Target StoresSource: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

In a recent revelation, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has disclosed the capture of a suspected thief with a penchant for trickery at self-checkouts. The individual, accused of switching price tags at Target stores across Santa Clara County, reportedly conducted his deceptive operation more than 15 times, stealing $11,000 worth of goods, according to a social media post by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

The Retail Theft Task Force of the county was hot on the suspect's heels, piecing together the pattern of his scams and closely monitoring his movements. The series of thefts spanned over a month, with the suspect also taking to online marketplaces in an attempt to sell his ill-gotten gains. His array of stolen items included but was not limited to pickleball paddles, high-end grooming equipment, Nintendo products, and various health and beauty supplies. The Sheriff's Office's persistence paid off when they executed a search warrant and recovered merchandise estimated at more than $2,600.

The unnamed suspect has a checkered past that includes arrests for illegally obtaining credit card information, burglary, and various forms of fraud in other states. This time, the thief was apprehended and charged with grand theft, facing consequences for his calculated retail deceptions. "Remember: “Ticket switching” doesn’t pay off," reads the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office statement.