Spring Hill man accused of stuffing shorts with steaks

SPRING HILL — A Spring Hill man was arrested Saturday after workers at a grocery store reported seeing him stuff steaks down his shorts and leave the store, deputies said.

Mark Belkola, 51, was at the Publix at 4158 Mariner Blvd. when he was seen in the meat department shoving six packs of steaks down his pants, then walking to the front of the store, according to a Hernando County Sheriff's Office report.

A store employee confronted Belkola after he left the store, but he ran to the parking lot and tried to get into his vehicle, the report states. A customer helped detain Belkola until authorities responded, the report states.

Belkola admitted to deputies that he had also taken a bottle of Vaseline and a bottle of pomegranate juice, both of which were found in his shorts, the report stated. The total value of the merchandise was $75.66.

Belkola told deputies, "I'm starving, I'm starving, that is why I took the steaks," the report states.

He was arrested on a charge of retail theft.