A 63-year-old man was arrested after using a scam to steal thousands of dollars’ worth of items from a grocery store, according to police.
“It’s a quick technique that they use, and they become extremely proficient,” Doral Police Chief Edwin Lopez explained.
The technique, known as ticket switching, involves passing numerous goods through a self-checkout register. In one hand, the individual would grasp an item or barcode for something less than $1, while the other hand would hold something considerably more expensive.
After passing both products through the scanner at the same time, only the less expensive item will be scanned.
“Common technique where these thieves start scanning items on these new cash registers that don’t have an attendant,” claimed Lopez. “Eventually, your luck’s gonna run out.”
Authorities say Luis Felipe Lezcano, 63, used this approach multiple times at retailers to avoid paying for thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies.
“According to store management, this individual did this over 35 times and, luckily, we were able to bring him to justice,” Lopez said.
In one of those cases, Lezcano is reported to have been caught on surveillance camera passing one item across the scanner with his right hand while holding another above it with his left hand, then placing both in a bag.
“It’s very difficult to detect, but luckily, through the leveraging technology, it’s very clear on camera,” Lopez told me.
On January 14, authorities apprehended Lezcano as he walked out of Walmart in the 8000 block of Northwest 13th Terrace. According to the arrest report, he had just finished using the same tactic inside, leaving with a number of products he did not pay for.
Officials hope that this arrest acts as a deterrence to those who try to utilize technology to avoid paying for products.
“The more we use technology, the more the community has to understand that you have a higher likelihood of being caught,” Lopez told the audience. “If you’re coming to Doral to commit a crime, we’re going to identify you, and we’re going to take you to jail.”
Lezcano was charged with one count of petty theft, but Lopez stated that additional charges will be filed after examining footage from past events.
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