By Staff Writers
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a recent incident at a Gainesville Target, 39-year-old Shaina Lynn Rentz was apprehended for shoplifting. Rentz, who is currently on probation in Marion County, had been labeled a fugitive by the Florida Department of Corrections after missing two court appearances related to probation violations.
According to reports, Rentz entered the Target store located at 3970 SW Archer Road around 10:45 a.m. on March 27. She reportedly swapped her own shoes for a new pair of sandals from the store, placing her shoes on the lower rack of her shopping cart. For approximately three hours, Rentz browsed the store, selecting items such as clothing, jewelry, and makeup. The jewelry and makeup were allegedly hidden in bags she brought with her, while she proceeded to the checkout to pay for a single shirt priced at $25 and purchase a drink from Starbucks before exiting the store.
Once outside, Rentz was stopped by a Target Loss Prevention Officer and subsequently accompanied back into the store by a Gainesville Police Department officer to address the situation in the loss prevention office.
After being read her Miranda rights, Rentz reportedly confessed to stealing goods valued at $135.78. She attributed her actions to the influence of Xanax, claiming the medication “makes people steal.”
The officer involved noted that Rentz is struggling with a severe drug addiction and had not slept since the day before the incident.
A search incident to arrest reportedly produced foil with drug residue and several homemade “pipes” that were used to smoke methamphetamine.
Rentz has been charged with petit theft and possession of drug paraphernalia; she was also booked on a warrant out of Marion County for violating probation on two drug charges, and she was listed as a fugitive by the Department of Corrections after she missed two hearings in Marion County for violating probation. Her full criminal history is unavailable, but she has a non-extraditable warrant out of Georgia for failing to appear at a hearing there, and she has at least two felony convictions (non-violent) and three misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) in Florida. Judge Luis Bustamante set bail at $10,000 on the new charges.
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.
