A Florida teacher is facing a felony charge for allegedly stealing more than $3,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart over several months using a Walmart checkout machine.
The man has sought compensation directly from the major retailer, but Walmart intends to prosecute him for theft.
Anthony Zaksiewicz, 45, turned himself in to police on Dec. 5, according to Flagler County court records reviewed by the US Sun.
Saksewicz, of Palm Coast, Florida, was charged with grand larceny and felony retail theft in connection with a series of alleged shoplifting incidents between May and October of this year.
Zaksevich is a history teacher at Matanzas High School and won a state award at the school last year, according to FlaglerLive.com.
He reportedly taught in Flagler County schools for about 17 years.
Court documents allege Zaksevich stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from the Cypress Point Parkway Walmart in Palm Coast, about an hour south of Jacksonville.
The suspicious transactions were first investigated by Walmart Asset Protection investigators, who claim they discovered “multiple thefts by the same suspect who completed purchases using debit cards,” according to the charging affidavit. .
After an investigation, Walmart identified Zaksevich as the suspect.
The retail giant claimed the Florida man was stealing merchandise using tactics such as “ticket swapping” and “skip scanning.”
Ticket exchange is when a shoplifter scans the barcode of a cheap item and then undercharges for the actual item being scanned.
Skip scanning, on the other hand, is simply a thief making it appear as if an item was scanned when it wasn’t.
Walmart claimed it discovered at least 40 instances in which the suspects used ticket exchange and skip scanning, ultimately costing the retailer $3,178.61.
Investigators found evidence through surveillance video that the suspect used these shoplifting techniques at self-checkout registers dozens of times.
He is also suspected of failing to read the weight of certain agricultural products and illegally using an “anti-inventory control device.”
Although most of the shoplifting incidents involved losses of less than $100, Zaksevich is suspected of stealing more than $750 on at least three occasions within a 30-day period.
Specifically, the Florida man purchased $790.99 worth of merchandise from June 11th to July 8th, $829.63 worth of merchandise from July 22nd to August 20th, and $829.63 worth of merchandise from August 26th to August 26th. He is accused of stealing merchandise valued at $891.27 through Sept. 24.
Based on the evidence, Walmart’s asset protection investigators argued that these incidents were “very intentional thefts.”
According to court documents, when approached in October about the pending charges, Szaksevich asked the parties if they could contact Walmart and “arrange financial compensation in lieu of prosecution.” It is said that
However, the retail giant informed police that a Palm Coast man had already called Walmart “saying they made a mistake.”
Zakusewicz again offered restitution, but Walmart told him it wanted the company “to be prosecuted for all crimes committed,” according to the affidavit.
Mr. Zaksevich’s arraignment is scheduled for January 29, 2024.
He pleaded not guilty Thursday.
From 2007 to 2014, Zaksevich also faced several civil charges for speeding and careless driving, according to Flagler County court records reviewed by US Sun.