A Florida man allegedly stole this $60,000 BMW one day after trying to buy it with his EBT card. Photo by Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., March 22 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said they arrested a man accused of stealing a BMW and 60 sets of car keys one day after he tried to purchase the luxury vehicle with food stamps.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said Nicholas Jackson, 36, was arrested Friday in Palm City after he ran out of gas while driving the $60,000 BMW he allegedly stole earlier in the day from Brascar Auto Sales in Pompano Beach.


Evandro Pereira, manager at the dealership, said Jackson came into the business three or four times Thursday and tried to purchase the car using a credit card and his Electronic Benefits Transfer food stamp card.

Pereira said Jackson was the first suspect on his mind when he arrived the next morning to discover the car and 60 sets of keys had been stolen.

"I had an idea [it was Jackson]," he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "The first thing that came to my mind was him."

Investigators said Jackson admitted during questioning that he entered the business through a window and stole the car and keys, which were recovered and returned to the dealership.

Jackson was charged with grand theft auto and jailed in lieu of $20,000 bond.