GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Bruce Keith Wilmer, 67, was arrested after authorities said he allegedly stole approximately $300 worth of ribeye steaks, snow crab, ribs and beer from a Walmart store.
According to a Gainesville Police Department report, the incident occurred around 9:27 a.m. on October 28. Wilmer allegedly placed 25 items into plastic Walmart bags he had brought with him, then walked past the checkout areas without paying. A Walmart loss prevention officer stopped him near the exit. The merchandise was valued at $300.97.
During the encounter, Wilmer reportedly volunteered that he is an alcoholic. When an officer asked how long he had been out of prison, Wilmer allegedly said he had been released about a month earlier. He also reportedly told the officer that he had spent time in state custody at a facility intended to help him address his alcohol use.
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Wilmer’s listed address is GRACE Marketplace. He faces a felony petit theft charge, identified as his third or subsequent offense. Court records show 19 nonviolent felony convictions and 26 nonviolent misdemeanor convictions in Florida, along with eight state prison sentences. His latest release was recorded on September 14, 2026. Authorities also noted an unspecified criminal history in Maryland dating from 1986 to 1990. Judge Meshon Rawls set bail at $20,000.