An investigation into the activities of the two Florida men arrested Jan. 6 for shoplifting at the Best Buy at Fayette Pavilion revealed that the mini-van full of merchandise originated at two stores in Florida, one in Valdosta and one in Macon. The men would not say why they were in Fayette County.

Charged with theft by shoplifting in the Best Buy incident and with four counts of theft by receiving stolen property were Hollywood, Fla., residents Julio Real, 26, and Steven Dacurro, 46, according to Fayetteville Police spokesperson Steve Crawshaw.

Dacurro was also charged with giving a false name, Crawshaw said. The charge of shoplifting at the Best Buy was due to the men concealing merchandise, even though nothing was taken, Crawshaw said.

The incident began as a Best Buy employee flagged down a passing Fayetteville officer, explaining that two men had been concealing merchandise while in the store. The men left the store without the merchandise, followed by the employee who got their tag number, Crawshaw said.

Deputies located the vehicle traveling on Hwy. 314. A check of the vehicle revealed numerous items such as video games, monitors, software, tennis shoes, vacuum cleaners and other items, Crawshaw said.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the merchandise totaling $16,000-17,000 was stolen from Toys “R” Us stores in Orange Park, Fla., and Merit Island, Fla.,and from an Office Max store in Valdosta and a Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Macon, Crawshaw said.

Crawshaw said the van was rented in Hollywood, Fla., at approximately 9 a.m. on Jan. 5.

Still unclear is whether Real and Dacurro stole the merchandise or received it after it was stolen, said Crawshaw.

“If they stole the merchandise, it will be up to the other jurisdictions to pursue theft by taking charges,” Crawshaw said.

Still unknown is why the men were in Fayetteville and where they might have been headed on their northern trek from south Florida to metro Atlanta in little more than a day.

The men refused to talk, Crawshaw said, except to say that they had done nothing wrong and that they wanted to see an attorney.

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