VIERA, Fla. – A Cocoa man was arrested Monday after he stole more than $1,000 in electronics from a department store in Brevard County, according to deputies.
The alleged theft happened at the Kohl's in Viera around 3 p.m. Monday and was caught by store surveillance cameras.
The department store's loss prevention officer suspected the alleged thief, 26-year-old Alexander Ruff, was up to no good and followed him around the store with surveillance cameras.
Knowing that at some point a theft was going to happen, the officer called 911.
"He's inside right now. He's scoping out the area where the electronics is," the officer told 911 dispatch.
The officers hunch was right.
Surveillance video appears to show Ruff stuffing item after item down his shirt and pants.
He then walks towards the exit unaware the loss prevention officer was on to him and had deputies waiting outside ready to make an arrest.
"He's going to the door now," the officer told dispatch. "That's him right there, right there, right there."
But after realizing he was caught in the act, Ruff fled, according to deputies.
He apparently ran through the Kohl's parking lot, hopped into his car and took off -- almost hitting a deputy in the process.
Eventually after a near 12-mile high-speed pursuit up Interstate 95 Ruff surrendered as he jumped out of his Volkswagen on Cox Road in Cocoa.
It turns out Ruff was on felony probation until 2019 for dealing in stolen property. He's now facing several charges including grand theft and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Ruff is being held without bond at the Brevard County Jail. He's set to face a judge next month.