Wauwatosa TV Thief Did Not Get Far After Leaving Target: Police

WAUWAOTSA, WI — A 49-year-old Milwaukee man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he stole a leaf blower from Home Depot and walked out of Target with a 40-inch big-screen television without paying for it.

Now Sean Whitehead has been charged with two counts of bail jumping, and two counts of retail theft.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, a security officer at Home Depot told police he saw Whitehead put a $399 leaf blower in his cart on June 21. Authorities said the security officer ran outside to confront Whitehead.

Police said Whitehead claimed "everything was a misunderstanding" during the incident, but he was arrested.

Then, on June 27, authorities said Whitehead was at it again.

According to court documents, Whitehead went to the Target store and pushed a 40-inch television out of the store in a shopping cart without making any attempt to pay for it.

Authorities say Whitehead managed to bypass security officers, and drove away in a Mercury Sable.

According to the criminal complaint, police pulled Whitehead over seven minutes later after Target security personnel called police. Police said they found the stolen television and several other unpaid items.

Court documents show that Whitehead has multiple open court cases, including an armed robbery charge in May 2018.