Florida man arrested for stealing $7,000 in scratch-off

A Florida man was hit with federal charges this week after he allegedly stole $7,000 in scratch-off lottery tickets from a convenience store, then returned to the scene of the crime mere hours later to try to redeem his loot, according to authorities.

Justin Farley, 43, pulled into a St. Petersburg Circle K on May 5, and “opened multiple cabinets and took scratch-off lottery tickets,” before fleeing the scene in his grey Hyundai Elantra, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by The Post.

Florida man arrested for stealing $7,000 in scratch-off lottery tickets, then returning to the same store less than 2 hours later to cash his winnings 👀

Roughly 40 minutes later, Farley arrived at an area 7-Eleven to redeem the $7,000 worth of scratch-offs, according to the document filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

After an unsuccessful attempt, the bumbling thief returned to the same Circle K and tried to cash in on the seven ticket books he had stolen from the store. His attempt once again failed, the document said.