BROOKLYN, Ohio -- Police say a security tape supports their claim: this Pepsi theft was no accident.
Thomas Sturgis, 50, of Cleveland told a local TV station Tuesday that, after paying $157.20 for groceries Saturday night at the Brooklyn Giant Eagle, he forgot about a $4 case of pop under the cart and was arrested for petty theft.
But Brooklyn Police Chief Mark Tenaglia says that security video shows Sturgis using a self-checkout with no items on the bottom of his cart.
Tenaglia says a second video camera shows Sturgis loading six 12-packs of Pepsi into his cart before he exited the store.
The total value of the soda was $21.54 with tax.
Sturgis declined to comment yesterday.
The Associated Press