Beer Swiped to Wash Down Hot Dog

With merchants, police and the prosecutor sick and tired of repeat offenders of shoplifting, Jeffrey Arnold Thomas, a 48-year-old man, of 210 Center Street, Kenbridge, was sentenced recently in Lunenburg Circuit Court on one felony count of Shoplifting as a Third Offense or Subsequent Offense of Shoplifting to five years in prison with all suspended except nine months in jail as a result of stealing a can of beer to go with a hot dog that he paid for at a Kenbridge convenience store.

When asked by police why he didn’t pay for the beer as well, Thomas replied that he did not have enough money for both and wanted the beer to “wash down the hot dog.”

According to Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement, first offenders of shoplifting normally get community service, and second offenses may earn some jail time, but a third or subsequent offense has been declared a felony by the legislature and carries up to five years in prison.  “Thomas had six prior larcenies from 1990 up to 2007, five of which are shoplifting, and two of which were felonies.  He was sentenced to one and a half years to serve on one of the felonies, and a year on the other,” said Clement.  “It is ridiculous, and it is a drain on taxpayers’ money to have to house guys like this in jail,” said Clement, “but they apparently feel a sense of entitlement and have no conscience about taking what belongs to others.  How many other times do they get away with shoplifting before getting caught?  They leave us no choice but to incarcerate them to keep them out of the stores from committing more larcenies and to serve as a warning to others.”

According to a summary of evidence provided in Lunenburg Circuit Court, two employees of the convenience store saw Thomas take a beer from the cooler, and put it down inside the front of his pants, and then leave the store.  The Kenbridge police officer was called and caught Thomas in the parking lot as he was leaving, eating the hot dog.

An additional suspended sentence of four years and three months was imposed under which Thomas is subject to conditions of good behavior for five years, including abstaining from and not possessing illegal drugs, supervised probation upon his release for one year, warrantless searches and seizures, and staying off the property of the store for five years.