HUDSON — Claude Jay Swick and his accomplice had it all planned, authorities say.
His partner hid in a Kmart after it closed Saturday. When everybody left for the night, he maneuvered $6,000 worth of merchandise, including laptops and big-screen TVs, to the back of the store, authorities say.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, he called Swick, 45, investigators said, who pulled up to the back of the store with a U-Haul truck.
Neither realized the store manager was still there.
The manager saw someone lurking in the store and called for help, Pasco County deputies said. When the deputies arrived, Swick was pulling away from the store at 12412 U.S. 19, they said.
Swick, who lives in Spring Hill, tried to get away, deputies said. But in his haste, he crashed and rolled the truck over on Beacon Woods Drive before running. He was soon caught with the help of a police dog, deputies said.
Swick is charged with one count of burglary of a business and was being held Sunday in the Land O'Lakes jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Police said they were still searching for his accomplice.
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