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Reports: Two took Greenacres woman's credit cards, tried to buy iPads in Boynton Beach [The Palm Beach Post, Fla.](Palm Beach Post (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 31--GREENACRES -- Kenneth Toth drove a stolen blue Kia to a Publix Super Market on Tuesday afternoon looking for someone to rob, police said. He swiped an older woman's purse -- and his alleged crime spree didn't stop there. With the woman's stolen wallet in hand, Toth and a Lake Worth man then allegedly drove south to Boynton Beach and used her credit cards to buy an iPad tablet computer. Toth, 29, who has no listed address, and Gary E. Johnson, 52, were arrested Tuesday on multiple charges. Both remained at the Palm Beach County Jail late Wednesday -- Toth in lieu of $60,000 bail and Johnson in lieu of $56,000. Toth is facing charges of grand theft auto, theft by fraud, possession of stolen credit cards and organizing a scheme to defraud. Johnson is facing one count of robbery by sudden snatching. According to police reports, Toth went into the Publix at Melaleuca Lane and Military Trail shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday and snatched an 86-year-old woman's purse from her shopping cart while she reached for an item on a shelf. He took her wallet and discarded the purse as a Publix employee chased him, police said. Boynton Beach police said Toth and Johnson then drove to the Best Buy store, at Congress Avenue and Old Boynton Road, to buy electronics with the woman's credit cards. It was unclear from police reports whether Johnson was with Toth at the Publix or whether Toth picked him up on the way. Officers responded to the Best Buy about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. A store employee told officers the men entered the store together and Toth bought an iPad. After purchasing the iPad, both men left the store and re-entered about 15 minutes later, according to a Boynton Beach police-arrest affidavit. Toth tried to buy another iPad, but left after being asked for identification. Police caught Johnson after he walked to a nearby Target store. He had two Discover cards that belonged to the elderly woman, police said. He reportedly told officers that Toth picked him up at his home and asked if he wanted to "charge stuff." Toth was arrested after officers on scene were informed the Kia had been reported stolen in Boynton Beach from a woman who said she used to be Toth's friend, according to arrest reports. Toth admitted to Greenacres officers that he had taken the purse, the police report said. He told them he did not hurt anyone and that the banks would refund the woman's money. Toth also told the officers he was better than any public defender and would probably defend himself in court, according to the Greenacres report. ___ (c)2013 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Visit The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at www.palmbeachpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |