37-time felon arrested for multiple shoplifting incidents, more charges to come
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Eddie Lee White, 68, was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of shoplifting and engaging in a scheme to defraud after allegedly making back-to-back trips to Target to steal clothing. A Butler Plaza security guard reportedly told the responding officer that White has also been involved in shoplifting cases at Burlington, Ross, Dollar Tree, and Marshalls.
On August 29, White and an unknown woman entered Target, where White allegedly took a reusable shopping bag from a checkout lane and concealed it in his pants. The pair reportedly went to the girls’ clothing section, where the woman selected several items of clothing and set them aside. The pair then went to the men’s department, where they allegedly placed several items of clothing in the bag and then left the store without paying.
About eight minutes later, the pair returned to the store, and White allegedly took two reusable shopping bags from the checkout lanes and concealed them in his clothes again. The pair allegedly went to the men’s clothing section and put several items in the shopping bags, then they went to the girls’ department, took the clothing that had been set aside earlier, and put it in the bags before walking out without paying. The stolen merchandise was reportedly valued at $224.19.
The Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) at Target told the responding Gainesville Police Department officer that he is familiar with White as a “regular, chronic thief” at Target, but he has been unable to speak with him. The LPO said he had surveillance video of at least five more shoplifting incidents, and charges for those incidents are pending.
A Butler Plaza security guard reportedly also said White is a “regular, chronic thief” at “all the Butler Plaza stores.” The security guard issued White a trespass warning four months ago, but he said White has “constantly disregarded” the trespass warning, and he has worked “numerous additional theft cases” involving White in those months.
The security guard had reportedly seen White earlier on August 29 and addressed White by name, which caused White to run across the street. The security guard reportedly identified White in the Target security video and said White is a suspect in theft cases at Burlington, Ross, Dollar Tree, and Marshalls.
White has 37 felony convictions (one violent) and seven misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He has served 13 state prison sentences, all out of Alachua County, with his most recent release in August 2023. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $35,000.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Â
I am all for forgive and forget with certain things but some people obviously have a hard time following the law. 37 felony convictions is an audacious number for an individual to walk around with a sense of freedom. He is well past due for a lengthy prison term where he will likely live out his wonder years. It is a shame that people just can’t grasp how east it is to follow the law. You will never get a speeding ticket in your life if you don’t speed. You will also never get arrested for stealing if you don’t steal from people. How hard is that, maybe I am just simple.
He doesn’t steal from people. Just corporations.
I think you are simple. There’s a lot of things that hold people back in life. You never know any stranger’s situation behind the scenes.
You just proved how much of a idiot you are when you still from corporations they lose money then they raise prices to make up money back and you’re too stupid to understand that
37 felonies? I guess the county won’t be reserving a jar for him.
If you check public records you’ll see he has an assortment of court cases going back to what looks like 1978. There’s an entry for pretty much every year except between 2006 through 2013 when he was doing about a 9 year sentence. Then things start up again in 2014 through now. Of course these are only the ones he was caught for.
I don’t know why but I’d like to know what keeps a guy committing these crimes for an entire life.
Being poor and having no workable skills besides that. Learning that early and not knowing how else to make a living.
Everyone has some sort of monetizable skill set, you just need to have a little bit of want to. His happens to be stealing and we see where that has gotten him. Maybe you are a disgruntled family member that doesn’t want to see their unc bashed online for being a useless drain on society. Being jobless these days is becoming more of a lifestyle choice than it is a situation caused by setbacks for a lot of people. Good riddance to him as far as I am concerned.
Tim Walz’ wife said we have to just keep giving ex-cons chances after chances, forever. So scummy Dem lawyers can’t make more money.
He can now retire as a thief after a lengthy career. Living off the taxpayers dime in prison. Might be able to cash in on Ward’s ambassador program.
These criminals think Florida is the same as California. Glad it is not even though the democrats are trying to make it so.
Give Ward, Eastman, Chestnut, Prizzia & co a couple more years…they’re getting closer to their California-East dreams.
“He has served 13 state prison sentences”
We’ve been paying for this A-hole all of his life. Store loses $$$ and passes it on to the rest of us. White gets caught and then you’ve got Po Po time, courts & lawyers, and then prison. Imagine how much just this one has cost over the years?
Its time to put him down a waste of good oxygen
At age 68 there is still time for rehabilitation. Give him a Bright Futures scholarship to UF, and in only 4 years he can show his skills working for NASA as a rocket scientist. Remember, everyone has potential.
Eddie is a perfect example of someone who needs to be in the Ambassador program. He knows the City well. A good guy who needs a break.