A Massachusetts state trooper took a plea deal Tuesday after allegedly stealing merchandise worth over $1,000 across multiple Target locations. Zachariah Kent, 30, from Sutton, pled to admission of sufficient facts on May 6 and is on a six-month probation, according to court documents. Kent allegedly stole merchandise, including golf balls, in Millbury, Westborough, and Worcester Target locations in 2024. Between January and September, Kent was the alleged suspect in at least 26 shoplifting cases, including 11 in a Millbury Target, according to court documents. Kent was said to have used a “skip-scanning” method where a shoplifter scans some items at the self-checkout counter while skipping others. In a Worcester Target, Kent allegedly stole $204.96 in golf balls alone, according to court documents. He was ordered to pay the same amount in restitution. Kent graduated from the State Police Academy in October 2022 and had no previous disciplinary history, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police. The department suspended Kent without pay on Oct. 1 of last year in response to the charges. Payroll data shows Kent was paid over $118,000 in 2024. “The Massachusetts State Police does not tolerate theft or dishonesty, and we hold our members accountable to the highest professional standards,” a spokesperson for the department said in the statement. Kent had one hearing in Westborough District Court beginning in October and a second in Worcester District Court in December, each resulting in a probation period.