Man Caught Stealing Over $1,500 Worth of Sports Gear

LUBBOCK, TX — A man was arrested on Wednesday on theft and evading charges after allegedly attempting to steal over $1,500 worth of merchandise from Academy Sports.

According to court documents, Lubbock Police Crime Suppression Unit detectives observed Travis Landin, 28, in the Academy Sports parking lot at 5802 19th Street during a surveillance operation on March 12. Landin had reportedly been suspected of a series of thefts, and officers were keeping an eye on his actions.

An officer watched Landin walk into the store and pick out different items. He then stuffed them into a brown and blue duffle bag he had in a shopping cart. A few minutes later, he eventually pushed the shopping cart with the duffle bag full of stolen merchandise past all points of sale.

Court reports state that another deputy parked in the parking lot witnessed Landin exit the store. The deputy got out of his vehicle and approached him. After an attempt to stop him, Landin fled across the parking lot and pushed the cart of stolen merchandise away.

The deputy chased after Landin, but he eventually stopped and fell to the ground after orders told him to do so. The deputy placed Landin under arrest.

Lubbock Police Detectives later examined Landin’s unlisted vehicle and found a modified "booster bag" inside. A “booster bag” is a bag that is lined inside with foil and duct tape, typically to thwart theft detection systems. The bag was seized as evidence.