Well now, howdy folks! Hope your day’s treatin’ ya right, and you’re not having any more excitement than you can handle. Speaking of excitement, down in Lakeland, Florida, a fellow found himself in a spot of bother over what some might call an ambitious shopping trip.
Seems like on a quiet Tuesday evening, a gentleman named Mark Steven Nelson, he’s 47 years old, decided he truly needed a new television. And not just any television, mind you, but a rather substantial 55-inch model. Now, most of us would pick one out, head to the checkout, and maybe wrestle it into the back of the car. Mr. Nelson, however, had a different strategy in mind for acquiring his new entertainment center from Walmart.
Authorities say he loaded that big screen right into a shopping cart and proceeded to push it straight out the door. You can imagine the look on the Walmart employees’ faces when they saw a 55-inch television making an unscheduled departure. They tried to put a stop to his impromptu exit, but Mr. Nelson wasn’t looking to stay and chat; he made a swift getaway with his new acquisition.
Now, a 55-inch set, mind you. That’s a significant piece of hardware. Used to be, if you wanted to see anything big, you had to go to the picture show or maybe hoped your old tube TV from Radio Shack (paid link) could still pick up UHF after fiddling with the rabbit ears for an hour. Now they’re all sleek and flat, and apparently, prime for a quick exit.
But as often happens with these sorts of tales, the getaway didn’t last too long. The law wasn’t far behind. Police managed to track Mr. Nelson down at a nearby gas station, and lo and behold, he was still in possession of that fine 55-inch television. Imagine trying to explain that one away. The TV itself was valued at around $398, a good chunk of change for something you just, well, borrowed indefinitely.
Mr. Nelson was charged with grand theft. Turns out, this wasn’t his first rodeo with similar charges either, as records indicate prior convictions for theft. It just goes to show, sometimes the shortcuts in life lead to a longer road, particularly when there’s a brand new big screen involved. Here’s hoping he finds a more conventional way to enjoy his favorite shows next time.
Check out 55-inch television on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=55-inch+television&tag=howeweirdcant-20 (paid link)
Original story source: wfla.com