Trooper Zachariah F. Kent, 30, of Sutton, is accused of stealing nearly $1,000 in merchandise (mostly golf balls) from Target stores in Worcester and Millbury.
According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Kent was “caught red-handed” by Target’s loss prevention employees on September 24 at the Millbury store.
Loss prevention was on the look out for Kent who allegedly used the “skip scan” method of shoplifting (pretending to pay at the self-checkout) at least 23 times this year.
Shortly after Millbury police detained Kent, Worcester police recognized him as a shoplifting suspect at the city’s Target store on Lincoln Street.
Kent allegedly visited that store at least three times this year and stole over $200 worth of golf balls.
Worcester police told the media that
Kent stole about $205 in golf balls between the outings. The first time, he allegedly scanned and paid for one pack of balls while stealing two others. The second time, he allegedly placed a $55 pack of golf balls in a paper bag at self-checkout and left without paying for anything. The third time, he allegedly selected “numerous” items he paid for at self-checkout, with the exception of a $40 pack of golf balls.
Kent has received a summons to appear in court for arraignment in February. The Worcester Telegram notes that Kent made approximately $119,000 this year as a state trooper. The state police have suspended Kent without pay.