Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Hal David Walsh, 20, of Alachua, was arrested yesterday after allegedly printing barcode stickers and using them to change the prices of nine Lego sets at Target.

At about 4 p.m. on January 3, a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Target (3970 SW Archer Road), where a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) said he saw Walsh “rapidly” selecting the Lego sets and decided to continue watching him; the LPO reported that he watched Walsh take stickers from his pockets and use them to cover the original barcodes before paying $9.99 for eight of the sets (and full price for one set) at self-checkout. The loss to Target was $845.00.

The LPO reportedly stopped Walsh as he was leaving the store and took him to his office, where he was cooperative.

Post Miranda, Walsh reportedly said he had recently gotten married, was having financial issues, and needed money quickly; he said he intended to sell the Lego sets on eBay.

Walsh has been charged with grand theft. He has no local criminal history; Judge Sean Brewer set bail at $845.

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.