By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—A suspected shoplifter was arrested by the Hoover Police Department after he allegedly returned to the scene of the crime to shoplift a second time on Aug. 8.

Mark Alan Webb, 49, of Vestavia Hills, was seen on video surveillance allegedly stealing a chainsaw and leaf blower from Walmart on U.S. 280 around noon on Aug. 8, according to a Facebook post from the Hoover Police Department.

Webb was allegedly “able to get out of the store” and Walmart loss prevention employees were unable to locate him in the parking lot, Hoover Police Capt. Gregg Rector explained.

The Hoover Police Department was called to the scene to complete an incident report.

While the Hoover officer was completing his report in a patrol car parked along the side of Walmart, Webb allegedly returned to the store for a second time, Rector said.

Webb was once again spotted on video surveillance around 12:45 p.m. allegedly stealing a weed-eater and a second leaf blower. Rector said Walmart employees were able to apprehend and hold Webb until the Hoover Police officer returned and arrested him.

“The officer just pulled around the building, went back in the store and arrested (Webb),” Rector said.

All stolen items, valued at $574, were located and returned, Rector said.

According to court documents, Webb has a lengthy criminal history, including two convictions for felony distribution of drugs in Jefferson County, one conviction for felony first-degree possession of marijuana in Jefferson County and 23 guilty pleas to a variety of offenses, including felonies, in Elmore, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and Shelby counties.

The Hoover Police Department previously arrested Webb in January for shoplifting from Kohl’s, Rector added.

Prior to his Aug. 8 arrest, Webb was serving a two-year probation in Shelby County for second-degree possession of a forged instrument. His probation was revoked on July 31 after he “failed to report as directed” and missed six consecutive random drug screenings, according to a motion to revoke probation submitted in Shelby County Circuit Court by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

Webb was held in the Hoover City Jail following his Aug. 8 arrested and transferred to the Shelby County Jail on Aug. 11.

Webb has been charged with second-degree theft of property, a Class C felony, and probation violation. He is currently in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $6,500.