Minichan

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 50-year-old man with 99 arrests in his past made it an even 100 on Thursday when police nabbed him in a suspected underwear and sock heist, according to a report released Friday and a police spokesman.

Joseph Wilson, of the 2200 block of Southeast Mandrake Circle in Port St. Lucie, faces retail theft and resisting a merchant charges following the late afternoon incident at Bealls in the 10100 block of South U.S. 1 in Port St. Lucie.

Port St. Lucie police determined Wilson has had 37 felony arrests, 47 misdemeanor arrests and 15 “unknown” arrests with a total of 35 convictions, a report states.

“He’s a career criminal,” said Officer Tom Nichols, police spokesman.

A Bealls loss prevention officer told police he saw a man later identified as Wilson pick out $174 in men’s socks and undies on video surveillance. He said the man hid the goods under his clothing and left the store.

The loss prevention officer said he contacted the man next to a Dodge Caravan in the parking lot. He identified himself as a loss prevention officer, and said the man hopped in the van and told the driver to “take off.”

Instead, the driver shut the van off, and the man ran toward South U.S. 1. The loss prevention officer saw the man cross South U.S. 1, but lost sight of him.

Another witness called 911 and reported seeing the man running by a nearby Wendy’s. The witness said the man took off his shirt and sweat pants, but that he still was wearing a white tank top and black shorts.

Police found Wilson hiding behind a trash bin “covered in sweat.”

“Joseph said he was out jogging and was taking a break behind the Dumpster because it’s cool back there,” a report states.

The loss prevention officer identified Wilson, who said he was experiencing “hard times.”

Investigators found the socks and underwear the loss prevention officer said he saw Wilson take.