Anonymous tips lead to arrest of suspected DeSoto County Publix beer thief

DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. —

A man was arrested after being accused of stealing beer from a Publix Supermarket in DeSoto County on New Year's Day.

Surveillance footage showed a man walking out of the store with a cart full of Heineken and Corona beers.

The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office said the suspect was identified as Stephen James Coccarelli, out of Ona, Florida, with the help of anonymous tips and a Hardee County Sheriff's Office detective.

A warrant was issued for Coccarelli, and he was arrested in Hardee County last week, according to DCSO.

Due to his previous convictions of theft, Coccarelli's charges for this incident were upgraded from a misdemeanor petit theft to a felony.

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