Athens man faces numerous felony shoplifting charges

There are a number of people in the Athens area whom authorities say are stealing merchandise on a regular basis from retailers and police said one such suspect was arrested recently for a series of thefts at Target on Atlanta Highway.

Paul Robert Blake, 53, of Helen Street, Athens, remained in the Clarke County Jail on Friday. A judge granted him bond on the multiple felony shoplifting charges, but denied bond on the probation violation charges.

The arrest was made Dec. 27 following an investigation by Athens-Clarke Police Det. Nathaniel Franco and the loss prevention officer at Target.

The investigation documented seven different shoplifting dates in December from Dec. 5 through Dec. 27.

On Dec. 21, for instance, police said Blake put on a coat he had not purchased, then proceeded to take a backpack and two speakers and leave the store.

Then on Dec. 27, when Blake returned to the store, the loss prevention officer called Franco, who was off-duty, but had patrol officers respond to the scene. Blake was arrested at the bus stop near the store in possession of $685 worth of merchandise, according to the report.

During his arrest, Blake denied stealing anything, saying someone sold him the property at the bus stop, according to the report.

Blake mostly took similar merchandise from fit bits, cell phones and headphones, Franco said.

The case, police said, shows the problems created by repeat offenders.

“Despite the classification and misconception that shoplifting is always a minor offense, these cases are an example of what I spend most of my time dealing with, repeat shoplifters stealing large amounts of merchandise over and over,” Franco said.

Most of the stolen merchandise is sold on the streets, he said.

The detective said he is investigating several people, who are known to have committed from three to five shoplifting crimes over the past month in Athens, with some of the suspects now stealing from stores in neighboring counties.

Franco said he has worked in the past with the municipal court and solicitor's office in diverting some minor cases for pre-trial diversion, when they involve offenders that are first-time or low-level offenders.