Carted Away: Investigators Link Man To Seven Alleged Push-Out Thefts Across Southern Maryland

LA PLATA, Md. — A La Plata man is facing theft charges in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties after investigators alleged he was involved in a series of retail thefts at Lowe’s, Walmart and Weis Markets stores across Southern Maryland.

Sean Montgomery Short, 55, of La Plata, has been charged in four separate criminal cases alleging thefts involving merchandise valued between $100 and $1,500. Court records show all of the cases remain pending in Maryland District Court.

Authorities allege several of the incidents were connected through surveillance footage, witness statements and a red Toyota Tacoma that investigators said appeared in multiple theft investigations.

Over a 38-day span, Short allegedly participated in seven “push-out” thefts. A push-out theft occurs when a suspect takes merchandise and walks out of a store without paying. The total value of the allegedly stolen merchandise across all incidents is nearly $3,000.

Court records show Short has been charged in four criminal cases related to the investigation.

The first alleged incident occurred April 27, 2026, at a Lowe’s store in La Plata. Court documents state that two suspects stole a Blackstone grill valued at approximately $308.98. The incident was captured on store surveillance cameras and linked to a red Toyota Tacoma.

Just five days later, on May 2, court documents show the same truck, linked by description and registration tags, was connected to another push-out theft at a Lowe’s store in Waldorf, where a Blackstone griddle valued at approximately $349 was allegedly stolen. Surveillance footage reportedly showed the same two suspects involved in the theft.

Another push-out theft allegedly occurred May 13 at the Lowe’s store in Waldorf. According to court documents, surveillance footage showed it took approximately four minutes for the two suspects to enter the store and take merchandise valued at $378.94. The same red truck bearing the same registration tags was allegedly used in the theft.

On May 20, surveillance footage at the La Plata Lowe’s allegedly captured another theft involving a mattress valued at approximately $398. According to court documents, footage showed Short entering the store and taking the mattress before being assisted by the second suspect in loading it into the truck.

According to court documents, all of these incidents were reported on May 23 after store security personnel reviewed surveillance footage and allegedly linked them to the same suspects and vehicle. Investigators traced the vehicle registration to the second suspect and used the suspect’s driver’s license photograph to identify him as one of the suspects seen in the surveillance footage. Authorities said a crime analyst familiar with Short from prior interactions identified him as the first suspect. Investigators then compared his driver’s license photograph with surveillance images and identified him as a suspect in the incidents.

According to charging documents, Short is charged with five counts of theft involving property valued between $100 and $1,500, as well as a conspiracy-related theft scheme charge. A preliminary inquiry hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Charles County District Court.

Just one day after the mattress theft, on May 21, Short allegedly committed another push-out theft involving a travel car seat valued at approximately $729 at a Walmart on Miramar Way in California. According to court documents, surveillance footage showed it took less than two minutes for him to enter the store and leave with the car seat. Investigators allege the same red truck was used. Crime analysts reviewing the footage again identified the suspect as Short, according to charging documents.

Short is charged with one count of theft involving property valued between $100 and $1,500 in that case. A preliminary inquiry hearing is scheduled for July 24 in St. Mary’s County District Court.

On June 2, 2026, another alleged theft occurred at Weis Markets in Prince Frederick. Surveillance footage allegedly showed a suspect stealing approximately $413.76 in merchandise and walking out of the store. Court documents state that two tips identified Short as a possible suspect in the incident, and investigators compared surveillance images from several of the other theft investigations before identifying him as the suspect. The documents also state he was wearing the same necklace and blue Under Armour hat seen in other thefts.

A preliminary inquiry hearing on one count of theft involving property valued between $100 and $1,500 is scheduled for July 27 in Calvert County District Court.

Only two days after the alleged Weis Markets theft, another theft allegedly occurred June 4 at a Walmart on North Solomons Island Road in Prince Frederick. According to charging documents, deputies responded after store personnel reported the theft of a Realtree XD 24-volt battery-operated ride-on vehicle with remote control valued at approximately $398.

Investigators said surveillance footage showed a man entering the store with an empty shopping cart before loading the boxed item into the cart and leaving through the garden center without paying. Authorities allege the suspect placed the merchandise into the bed of a red Toyota Tacoma before leaving the property.

Court documents state Calvert County deputies later learned the same vehicle had been connected to theft investigations in Charles and St. Mary’s counties. Investigators reviewed surveillance images and information provided by other agencies before identifying Short as a suspect.

According to charging documents, Short is charged with one count of theft involving property valued between $100 and $1,500 in connection with the incident and has been ordered to appear in Calvert County District Court on July 27.

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