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Suspected TV Thief Who Posed As Walmart Employee Behind Bars For Drug Charge

PALMDALE (CBS) — Authorities say they've nabbed the thief who posed as a Walmart employee and walked out with four flat-screen TVs.

Michael Hollins, 50, of the Kern County town of Rosamond, was arrested on unrelated drug allegations, according to Deputy Robbie Royster.

Hollins was identified Friday in the Walmart theft, and at an attempt at Costco the previous week, he said.

In the Dec. 22 theft in Palmdale, Costco security guards asked Hollins about two televisions he was carrying as he left the store. Hollins told them they were "returns" and kept walking, but a scuffle ensued and Hollins got away – without the TVs, deputies said.

On Jan. 2, the same man seen in the Costco surveillance video was shown, dressed like an employee, walking out of a Walmart in Lancaster with four televisions, Royster said.

Hollins said he got the Walmart I.D. from a recently fired employee, according to detectives.

»RELATED STORY: Man Disguised As Walmart Worker Walks Out Of Palmdale Store With 4 Tvs

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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