Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced the conviction of David Bernhardt Sr. of Annapolis for a retail theft scheme involving approximately $14,000 across multiple counties, resulting in supervised probation after full restitution was paid.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the conviction of David Bernhardt Sr. for his role in a scheme responsible for the theft of approximately $14,000 across at least five jurisdictions in the state of Maryland.
David Taylor Bernhardt Sr., 57, of Annapolis, Maryland, engaged in a pattern of retail thefts targeting Lowe’s and Home Depot stores. Bernhardt pleaded guilty to one count of theft scheme $1,500 – $25,000. Prior to the conviction, he paid the full amount of restitution to the victim stores. Bernhardt was granted a probation before judgment and placed on five years of supervised probation, with a special condition to stay away from the victim stores.
Bernhardt engaged in a pattern of at least 62 retail crimes. Investigators first became aware of his activities in March of 2024. He targeted stores across the state, including locations in Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County, Garrett County, and Allegany County.
Bernhardt typically committed thefts during business hours using various tactics. On some occasions, he would add items to his shopping cart and then move to the back of the store, often off camera, to conceal them on his person. On other occasions, he would select items and go to the self-checkout machines, scanning a substitute barcode that corresponded to a cheaper item. The substitute barcode would be placed over the original barcode or hidden in his hand. Sometimes, Bernhardt would simply scan cheaper items while intentionally skipping the more expensive items in his cart.
He repeatedly targeted the same retail stores, sometimes stealing from them multiple times in a single day.
“When someone steals from a retail store, it doesn’t just hurt the business—they drive up prices for everyone, reduce access to everyday items, and stretch law enforcement thin,” said Attorney General Brown. “We pursued this case to hold the offender accountable, protect Maryland consumers and businesses, and make clear that this kind of organized theft won’t be tolerated.”
Bernhardt stole personal-use home improvement items, including toolboxes, plumbing fittings, decorative plants, saw blades, air conditioners, circuit breakers, LED lights, and more.
The case was prosecuted in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked the attorneys in his Criminal Division, including Criminal Division Chief Katie Dorian, Organized Crime Unit Chief Paul Halliday, Investigations and Prosecutions Support Unit Chief Zachary Norfolk, and Assistant Attorney General Surur Yonce, who prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Brown also thanked State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County Aisha Braveboy for her office’s assistance with the investigation.