Not once. Not twice. Suspect arrested for shoplifting 3 times at the same Walmart

LEESBURG, Fla. – A serial thief has now been charged with shoplifting for the third time at a certain Walmart in Florida. He was actually arrested a fourth time there, but for trespassing.

Police said the familiar suspect “was on a bicycle wearing a white shirt and black pants, and carrying a white and brown bag,” on the afternoon of Sept. 15. 

A senior officer heading to the crime scene found a man “matching the description” and “conducted an investigative stop,” the arrest report said.

Officers identified Mark Alan Whorley, the report continued, and “requested to search the bag the defendant had in his possession, which he declined.”

That didn’t matter.

Whorley was arrested after a picture of the suspect, sent from the store, matched.

“Search engine to arrest,” the officer wrote, “I searched the white and brown bag with the words ‘Corona’ printed on the front,” and it contained fishing equipment worth $108.53.

“All items were observed to be brand new and in packaging that had not been opened,” the officer continued.

Then, he met with the store’s loss prevention officer and reported watching video surveillance showing Whorley “in the fishing department, taking fishing items and placing them into his shopping cart.

“The defendant was later observed placing the unpaid fishing equipment into the ‘Corona’ handbag.

“The defendant was observed walking out of the business, passing all points of sale without making any attempt to pay for the unpaid fishing equipment.”

And, “The defendant then got onto a multicolor bicycle and left the location.”

A “criminal history inquiry” on Whorley found “two prior convictions of retail theft on 07/31/2021 and 09/18/2023,” the latter taking place at the same Walmart and involving a lot more stuff.

In that case, he took “a shopping cart full of store merchandise … 31 items consisting of groceries, houseware, automotive, and sporting good products totaling $616.56,” the arrest report said.

But, “After the store employees confronted” him, he left the goods and “took off on foot.”

He was caught and the police officer wrote, “The defendant’s first words when I spoke with him was ‘You got me.’”

That arrest report mentioned a larceny conviction in 2005 in Michigan, and yet another between the 2021 and 2023 convictions, also in Lake County.

This time, Whorley, 48, was charged with petit theft with two or more prior convictions, which is a felony.

His bail was set at $2,500, which he didn’t pay, so he’s still in jail.

He pleaded not guilty.