I’ve heard of some boneheaded criminal moves in my time, but this one might just take the cake. Picture this: a Walmart in Michigan, brimming with police officers who are there for a ‘Shop with a Cop’ charity event, and a woman decides that it’s the perfect time to try and shoplift over $700 worth of merchandise. You can’t make this stuff up!
The ‘Shop with a Cop’ event is a heartwarming initiative where children who may not have a great Christmas get to partner up with police officers and shop for presents for themselves and their families. It’s a lovely idea, isn’t it? Well, apparently, one 62-year-old woman thought it was also the perfect cover for a five-fingered discount spree.
According to reports, the woman loaded up her cart with all sorts of goodies—groceries, clothes, you name it—and then sauntered right through self-checkout without paying a dime. I mean, who does that? With 75 cops in the store? Talk about gall!
Ignoring the poor clerk who asked for her receipt, she headed straight for her car and started loading up her stolen loot. But here’s the kicker—she had parked her car next to a gaggle of police patrol cars. Maybe she thought they were there as part of a new Walmart valet service?
One of the troopers was tipped off by a Walmart staff member and, after ensuring the child he was shopping with was taken care of, he caught up with our would-be thief in the parking lot.
“I do have to say it surprised me because when I’m driving a patrol car, people slow down,” said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police. “When you see 75 cops in the store, I mean, I don’t know if maybe they thought we were too busy.” Too busy or not, it’s safe to say this lady didn’t get away with her attempted heist.
The suspect was arrested and taken to Livingston County Jail. She’s been released on bond, but she’s looking at charges of retail fraud. And all for what? A shopping cart full of Walmart goodies? It’s a sad and sorry tale, folks, but one that serves as a reminder that crime doesn’t pay—especially not when there’s a store full of cops.
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