By Staff Reporter

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a recent incident at Belk, located at 6323 West Newberry Road, 40-year-old Keith Daron Pitts was taken into custody following allegations of purse theft totaling $550.

The event unfolded around 4:54 p.m. on November 1, when a Belk employee spotted a man leaving the store with several purses without making a purchase. The employee promptly informed a manager, who then alerted a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer who was on-site. The purses in question were valued at $550.36.

A separate eyewitness reported seeing a man concealing himself behind a trailer in the Oaks Mall parking area. Officers observed a man fleeing across SW 62nd Boulevard. A swift response from multiple GPD officers led to Pitts being located in the 500 block of NW 60th Street. The store employee later confirmed that Pitts was the individual responsible for the theft. The stolen purses were subsequently recovered near the trailer.

Surveillance footage corroborated the events, capturing Pitts exiting the store with the unpaid merchandise.

Following his arrest and after being read his Miranda rights, Pitts reportedly confessed to taking the purses, citing frustration as his motive.

Pitts, whose address is listed as GRACE Marketplace, has been charged with felony petit theft with two or more previous convictions. He has 17 felony convictions (two violent) and 19 misdemeanor convictions (one violent) and has served three state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2022. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $20,000.

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.