ROCKLAND, Maine — A 33-year-old Rockland man is in jail facing a felony theft charge after he stole a flower to impress his girlfriend, according to local police.
Joshua Weston was arrested Monday night after police said he walked out of Hannaford supermarket that evening with a cart full of groceries that included a purple orchid. Weston was charged with felony theft and violating a condition of release.
The theft charge was elevated to felony level because of prior convictions. Weston was convicted in 2009 of theft and burglary and in 2011 was convicted of burglary and theft of a firearm, according to court papers.
According to an affidavit filed by Rockland police, Hannaford’s loss prevention officer shared surveillance video of a man and woman entering the store together and going in different directions. The video then shows the woman leaving after paying for groceries but the man leaving with an overflowing cart of groceries without paying, the affidavit states.
Police recognized the man in the video as Weston, according to the affidavit. Officers went to his residence that evening and questioned him. He initially denied stealing anything and said he had a receipt because the couple paid for the groceries with an EBT card. He also denied being the man in the picture that they showed to him, claiming he did not own a distinctive shirt like the one worn by the man in the picture, according to the affidavit. The officer, however, pointed out that the shirt was on the couch in front of him.
Weston then told police that he only stole a purple orchid to impress his girlfriend. He later admitted to stealing some measuring cups but denied stealing anything else.
He was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail in Rockland, where he is being held without bail until his scheduled initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in Knox County Unified Court.