OCALA, Fla. -- Ocala Police say Garrett Lee Brown, 27, faked an armed robbery by cutting his own arm. A tattoo on the arm reads “Laceration.”

According to Ocala.com, Brown was working at Pizza Italia, his job through the half-way house he attends, when he cut himself with a serrated kitchen knife and pretended he was robbed. Police say it was an effort to conceal money he allegedly stole to support his drug habit.

Capt. Tommy Bibb says the department takes false police reports very seriously, considering up to $4,000 of taxpayers money went into the false investigation.

Brown was returned to Marion Correctional Institute, charged with petit theft and filing a false police report. His half-way house privileges were also revoked in the process.

READ THE FULL STORY: Man Admittedly Made Up Armed Robbery Story To Cover Theft To Support Drug Habit