SURFSIDE, Fla. – Surfside police arrested a man they described as a serial shoplifter Sunday.
Officers took Emerson Allen Wright, 43, of North Miami, into custody after a police officer pulled over a Miami-Dade Transit bus.
Police said Wright is a menace to local businesses. While he was arrested Sunday for taking a wall charger from the CVS at 9578 Harding Ave., he was already wanted for another theft from that same store.
“Any time you have a person in your community (who) consistently displays criminal behavior, it’s problematic, because it seems like it might be petty in some people’s eyes, but this particular subject also has gotten violent in the past,” Surfside police Chief Charles Press said.
The CVS in question happens to be right near a bus stop.
“There’s quick access to the bus stop and that’s usually how he makes his getaway,” Press said. “And in this case, that’s how he did it again.”
Press has had multiple convictions for petty and grand theft.
“He keeps getting arrested every month,” Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer said in bond court Monday morning. “It looks like almost every month.”
Police said theft is virtually Wright’s job.
“Some people that this the way they make their living, you know,” Press said. “I like to say to those people, if I’m involved personally, you need to find another job.”
Wright remained behind bars as of Monday evening.