A St. Lucie West shoplifting incident led to the arrest of a West Palm Beach man wanted for armed robbery in Los Angeles.
The man, identified as Chad Nicholas Barker, 25, is accused of stealing an iPhone from the St. Lucie West Walmart on May 4. He was arrested 10 days later when he returned to the store and was recognized by the asset protection associate who handled the incident at the time it occurred.
According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, Barker entered the store around 8:40 p.m. May 4 with another person. They headed to the electronics department and made as though they were going to buy and activate an iPhone worth $1,149.
When the employee contacted Verizon to authorize the cellphone, Barker reached over the counter and grabbed the phone and box and left the store, police said.
Ten days later, Barker returned to the store and asset protection contacted police, who then arrested him on a charge of grand theft. Police later learned that Barker has an active warrant with full extradition from Los Angeles on a charge of armed robbery.
Barker was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail. The other male who was present during the theft was interviewed and released.
