Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alex Nicholas Harding, a 39-year-old real estate agent, was taken into custody yesterday after being accused of repeatedly stealing sports cards from Walmart locations in the area. Authorities suspect he may also be involved in similar thefts across the state.

The Gainesville Police Department was alerted to the situation on November 12 by a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer (LPO). According to the LPO, since September 13, Harding has allegedly been involved in six thefts of sports cards from the Butler Plaza Walmart. Additionally, the northwest location reported “at least four” thefts since September 18. Meanwhile, the Waldo Road store has documented five incidents, with expectations that the count could increase to around 20. The LPO noted that Harding visits the Waldo Road location most frequently.

The detective further revealed that Harding is suspected in other incidents, including the theft of nearly $600 worth of sports cards from a Walmart in Dunnellon on September 28, and close to $900 in cards from a Leesburg store on October 23. Surveillance footage has captured each of these thefts, and additional local charges are anticipated once the LPOs complete their video reviews.

Harding’s identity and a description of his vehicle—a red Honda Civic with a spoiler—were provided to the detective. The LPO stated that all Walmart locations have been vigilant in monitoring for Harding and his vehicle ever since they were informed of the outstanding warrant from Lake County.

On November 13, an LPO saw Harding’s vehicle enter the parking lot of the Butler Plaza Walmart, and two store employees watched him from the time he got out of his car. He allegedly selected a shopping cart, went straight to the sports card section, and selected a box of Topps basketball cards ($24.99), which he took to the women’s apparel section of the store, where he opened the box and put the packs of cards in his pants pocket before leaving the store without paying for the cards. He was confronted outside the store by an LPO.

Harding was reportedly compliant and returned to the Loss Prevention Office with the LPO and provided his driver’s license to confirm his identity. Gainesville Police Department officers responded and arrested him on the Lake County warrant.

The LPO told officers that the theft that day was a “light” one because their latest shipment had not arrived.

The detective reported that the loss to Walmart is “thousands” of dollars, but the total loss has not yet been determined.

Post Miranda, in response to a question about why he was stealing sports cards, Harding reportedly said, “There’s honestly no explanation. I honestly can’t explain it… I honestly don’t have a valid excuse… I’m honestly glad I got caught because it breaks the pattern. All I can offer is my apologies… It’s like a gambling addiction kind of thing… This is the best thing that can happen, honestly — it was becoming a pattern that had a little bit of a grip on me. This is obviously what I need to turn the corner.”

When asked how many times he had stolen from the Waldo Road Walmart, Harding reportedly said he had no idea and does not “keep track”; when pressed, he said it was at least 10 times, but he wasn’t sure it would be 20.

Harding has been charged with petit theft and engaging in a scheme to defraud; he has also been charged with stealing 20 or more items in at least three incidents over 120 days. He has no criminal history but has an active warrant out of Lake County. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $50,000 on the first two charges, and bail for the third charge will be set tomorrow.

According to his profile at Realtor.com, Harding moved to Gainesville in 2022 from South Carolina and became a realtor. Before the move, he spent a decade as a youth pastor and three years as an international missionary. He formed his own real estate team this year.

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.