Ocala Police arrested Brittany Reeves last week after she was accused of shoplifting $57.95 in merchandise – mostly food items – from the Publix grocery store at 3215 E Silver Springs Blvd.

An Ocala Police officer was called to a Silver Springs fast-food restaurant last week after a suspected shoplifter from a nearby grocery store was spotted there.

Ocala Police arrested Brittany Reeves last week after she was accused of shoplifting $57.95 in merchandise – mostly food items – from the Publix grocery store at 3215 E Silver Springs Blvd.

When the officer arrived at the McDonald’s restaurant at 3215 E Silver Springs Blvd. on Monday, a sergeant already had 26-year-old Brittany Reeves in handcuffs. The officer spoke with the manager of a nearby Publix grocery store, who claimed Reeves had shoplifted from his store. The manager said he wanted Reeves and everyone with her trespassed from his business, an Ocala police report states.

The officer then transported Reeves back to the Publix, located at 3450 E Silver Springs Blvd. She refused to speak with the officer except to confirm that she had a prior theft conviction, the report says.

The manager told the officer he remembered Reeves from a prior theft at a Publix store in Crystal River. The store’s loss prevention officer said he started watching Reeves because she was wearing a hoodie. He said he saw her conceal cheese “in her crotch area,” then leave the store with items in her hoodie pockets as well without paying for them. He said Reeves gave him the cheese she had concealed in her crotch area and then fled to the nearby McDonald’s on foot.

All told, Publix officials said Reeves allegedly took $57.95 in merchandise, which was mostly food items. They provided the officer with video surveillance of the incident and a written statement reporting what they had witnessed, the report says.

Reeves, who was confirmed to have a prior conviction for theft in Citrus County in July 2016, was transported to the Marion County Jail and charged with petit theft (second offense). She was released Tuesday on $1,000 bond and her next court date hasn’t yet been set.

Reeves is no stranger to the Marion County legal system, having been held in the jail six times since July 2016. Her previous charges all deal with grand theft, an outstanding warrant and revoking her bond.