Deputies charge man with boombox theft

ALFORD — A Compass Lake man has been taken to jail for allegedly trying steal a boombox from Wal-Mart.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call at about 6 p.m. Friday from the loss prevention department of Wal-Mart security in Alford about a man fleeing the area after being confronted about a theft. A Deputy located Steven Edward Altieri, 33, on McDuff Drive in the Highlands of Compass Lake and took him into custody at 6:42 p.m., authorities reported.

Investigators said Altieri was shopping in the store with a female companion. The female purchased several items and made her way to the exit.

Altieri took control of the buggy and went back into the store where he placed a rechargeable boombox valued at approximately $90 in the buggy along with the other items. After walking around the store for a while, Altieri attempted to leave the store without paying for the boombox, JCSO reported.

Once he was passed the point of sale he was detained by loss prevention. However, he refused to return to the office and left in the female’s vehicle. As the Loss Prevention Associate was attempting to obtain a tag number, Altieri bent the tag over in an attempt to prevent him from doing so.

A check of Altieri’s criminal history revealed that he was convicted of retail theft/grand theft over $300 from a Wal-Mart in Marimar. A second or subsequent retail theft charge is classified as a felony in Florida and he was charged as such. Altieri is also on State Probation and was charged with Violation of State Probation. He was taken to the Jackson County Correctional Facility to await first appearance.