What started as a quick stop at a Davenport Wawa ended with 16 people in custody after Polk County deputies say a group turned the convenience store into the site of a coordinated snack-and-drink theft on Friday.
According to a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release, employees at the Wawa on Old Lake Wilson Road called deputies when they saw people concealing bottled drinks and food in their clothes and getting ready to leave. Deputies say the group, visiting Polk County from other parts of Florida and staying at an Airbnb, arrived in three vehicles, a BMW, a Tesla and a Honda Accord, and took turns cycling through the store over about 15 minutes.
Investigators say some items were hidden; others were consumed on the spot. Deputies recovered unopened merchandise, along with empty bottles and wrappers, and estimated the total loss at about $40. The sheriff's office says all of the theft suspects admitted to taking the items when they were interviewed.
These suspects Polk'ed around and found out -- we don't tolerate theft here.
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) June 29, 2026
On Friday, June 26, 2026, PCSO deputies arrested 12 adults and 3 juveniles who were stealing food and drinks at the Davenport Wawa located on Old Lake Wilson Road; all of the suspects have been staying… pic.twitter.com/jXLmOedISK
In a post on X, Sheriff Grady Judd said the suspects "came to our county, fooled around, and found out" as he shared the agency's account of the arrests. Deputies say three people were also found with marijuana or drug paraphernalia when one of the vehicles was searched, and one suspect faces an added probation-violation charge. The sheriff's post and the news release include photos and surveillance images that deputies say helped confirm who took part.
How Deputies Say the Wawa Theft Went Down
Store workers told deputies they watched members of the group block clerks' lines of sight while others grabbed snacks and drinks, then ate and drank them inside the store. Deputies say the suspects moved in and out in small waves, trying not to draw attention as they rotated through the aisles.
Investigators pulled the store's surveillance video and say the group’s interview statements matched what appeared on camera. Deputies detained the suspects in the parking lot as they were getting ready to leave, and recovered some items that had not yet been opened.
Charges and What They Could Mean
The sheriff's office says the 12 adults face charges that include petit theft, tampering with evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The three juveniles were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. One additional person, who was not part of the theft itself, was arrested under Florida's "Halo Law" for approaching deputies after repeated warnings to stay back.
Under Florida law, petit theft is a misdemeanor that can bring up to 60 days in jail and a 500 dollar fine, according to Florida Statutes. Tampering with evidence is classified as a third degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison under Florida Statutes section 918.13. The Halo Law, which creates a 25 foot buffer around officers and makes violations a misdemeanor, is codified in Florida Statutes section 843.31.
Polk County deputies are asking anyone with additional information or video from the Wawa to contact the sheriff's office. Local retailers say even small dollar thefts can rattle staff and customers, and the sheriff's release notes that when people coordinate across county lines, even a convenience store snack run can turn into a criminal case.
