Tide detergent theft suspect held on $1-million bail in O.C.

There appears to be a nationwide theft wave of Tide Laundry Detergent, and Orange County, California is riding that wave as well. On Wednesday, March 14^th, 2012, it was confirmed that a Vons in Mission Viejo saw a numerous containers of the big orange bottles stolen off its shelves. It seems that the well-known product is being sold on the street at a discount and likely to purchase drugs for personal use.

Ronald Ledesma, 54, literally took a shopping cart and headed directly to the detergent aisle, loaded up his cart with bottles of Tide and walked out the door without paying for them. He was seen doing this on the stores surveillance cameras on February 7^th, 2012. And, it was learned that Ledesma also has at least two “serious and violent” felony convictions hanging over his head. After being confronted by the store manager in the parking lot, he attempted to flee in a Ford Explorer, but before he could go very far, he hit an off-duty Orange County Fire Authority ambulance, leaving a paramedic injured. However, Ledesma continued to drive away with a witness on his tail and was finally arrested inLake Forest.

To top things off, Ledesma was on methamphetamine at the time and admitted that this was not the first time he stole the detergent. As a result, he is was charged with 10 counts of related commercial burglary and is being held on $1-million bail at the Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana.

Wow, what is happening to this wonderful country we live in? Desperate times make people do desperate things. How sad for our society.