A Florida woman was recently arrested at a Walmart in Marion County after she reportedly walked past check out because she assumed the security guard was trying to hit on her, local authorities said.
RELATED STORIES: Footage Shows Florida Man Punching & Spitting On Customer In Wheelchair At Mcdonald’s
Catherine Eaves was arrested and charged with petit theft last Thursday at a local Walmart in Ocala after the 34-year-old left without paying for her items and refused to return to check out. According to FOX 35 Orlando, surveillance footage showed Eaves walking around the store for several minutes before entering the tire center, passing multiple cash registers, and leaving the store. The store’s asset protection specialist attempted to stop Eaves from going and told her to pay for her items. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said she yelled back at the employee and continued to exit the store, but Eaves claims he tried to “holler” at her, which caused her to run out.
During her interview with deputies, Eaves explained that she went to Walmart to kill some time since she was returning some items and grabbed some new ones. She took out of the store two hair color kits, shampoo, drill batteries, and other miscellaneous items totaling approximately $160. Although Eaves initially claimed the security guard was trying to hit on her, she later told deputies that there were no cashiers at the tire center, which allowed her to leave the store.
RELATED STORIES: Chrisean Rock Responds To Backlash From Baby Walmart Video: “Instead Of That Lady Recording Me, She Could’ve Just Helped Me”
When asked why she didn’t go to a different section to pay for her items, Eaves reportedly didn’t give “a valid answer,” she was booked at the Marion County Jail. However, she was released on her recognizance.
This is not the first time Walmart has had issues with shoplifters and scammers.
Several New York Walmart stores dealt with credit card skimmers at registers in July. The Auburn Police Department said that the stores’ employees witnessed one of the machines after it was attached to a terminal. Two Walmart stores in Maine also experienced a similar issue, and another in Niagara Falls within the same month.
Walmart has implemented various security measures to combat this issue. They have surveillance cameras strategically placed throughout their stores, trained security personnel on-site, and even advanced technologies like electronic tags on high-value items. These efforts aim to deter potential thieves and ensure a safe shopping environment for customers.
However, despite these precautions, some individuals still attempt to steal merchandise from Walmart stores. These incidents range from small-scale thefts to more organized operations involving multiple individuals.
It’s important to note that shoplifting not only affects the retailer but also impacts honest customers in terms of increased prices due to losses incurred by theft. Therefore, it remains a challenge for Walmart and other retailers to find effective ways to prevent and address such incidents.
