Police Catch “Career Criminal” Accused of Stealing From Stores

Police Catch "Career Criminal" Accused of Stealing From Bay Area Stores

A career criminal with a staggering 75 arrests since 1985 has been caught again, this time for an elaborate theft scheme targeting Bay Area Lowe’s stores.

At a Glance

Mark Brents, 57, arrested for defrauding Lowe’s of over $4,500 in merchandise
Brents has reportedly been arrested 75 times since 1985 and imprisoned 11 times
He allegedly used a barcode manipulation scheme to target Lowe’s stores in Hillsborough County and Clearwater
Brents faces multiple charges, including organized scheme to defraud and retail theft
Law enforcement agencies collaborated to apprehend the repeat offender

Career Criminal’s Latest Scheme

Mark Brents, a 57-year-old man with an extensive criminal history, has been arrested for the 75th time in a career spanning nearly four decades. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Organized Retail Theft Unit (ORT) launched an investigation earlier this month into Brents’ activities, uncovering a sophisticated barcode manipulation scheme targeting Lowe’s stores in Hillsborough County and Clearwater.

Brents’ modus operandi allegedly involved placing barcodes from cheaper items onto more expensive products or scanning cheaper items to avoid paying full price. According to authorities, this fraudulent activity resulted in Lowe’s being defrauded of over $4,500 in merchandise on ten separate occasions. The thefts were caught on camera, and investigators later discovered online advertisements posted by Brents for the stolen items.

Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort

A covert operation by the Clearwater Police Department and ORT led to Brents’ arrest on August 21. Prior to his apprehension, Brents was observed driving erratically in a black Nissan Altima with an improper tag. The arrest highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in tackling repeat offenders.

Sheriff Chad Chronister said that the Clearwater Police Department worked with its Organized Retail Theft unit to capture the suspect, who he called a “career criminal.”

“This partnership was crucial in stopping a thief who has been a repeated offender for decades, and speaks volumes of the power of collaboration between law enforcement agencies,” said Chronister. “Despite this individual’s lengthy criminal history, he still has not learned his lesson. We will not tolerate habitual offenders who continue to prey on our community.”

Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency cooperation in apprehending criminals who operate across multiple jurisdictions.

A Long History of Offenses

Brents’ criminal record is extensive, with 11 prison stints and 74 bookings into the Orient Road Jail since 1985. At the time of his most recent arrest, he was already on probation for felony fleeing to elude.

“Our detectives were happy to work with their counterparts from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to get this individual off the streets,” said Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy. “He has a long history of breaking the law in multiple jurisdictions.”

For his latest offenses, Brents faces charges of organized scheme to defraud less than $20,000, retail theft $3,000 or more, and felony petit theft. The Clearwater Police Department has also filed additional charges related to the stolen property. As the investigation continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces in dealing with habitual offenders and the need for more effective strategies to break the cycle of repeat criminality.