WILMINGTON — The man responsible for stealing from at least eight Wilmington stores throughout the course of a year has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.
Leon Ross Jr., 60, pled guilty to 16 counts of habitual larceny related to a string of thefts from Wilmington retail stores beginning in November of 2024. A person becomes qualified for a habitual larceny charge if an individual has been convicted of larceny four times before and is charged again.
Ross already had multiple felony larceny and misdemeanor larceny convictions, breaking and entering, robbery and assault convictions, among others.
The investigation against him first began in November 2024, when Ross was caught on camera stealing around $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Lululemon in Mayfaire. From November 2024 until December of 2025, Ross allegedly stole items from Home Sense, Belk, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Buckle, H&M, Rack Room Shoes, and Ulta.
Past arrests over the course of the year resulted in a low bond or having his bond unsecured by a presiding district court judge. While wearing an ankle monitor, Ross continued to steal from stores in December 2025 as well.
Superior Court Judge Frank Jones sentenced Ross as a habitual felon, ordering him to serve a 128- to 166-month active sentence followed by a one- to two-year active sentence. Ross was also ordered to pay a total restitution of $13,648 if he’s given work release as part of post-release supervision.
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