A Bellefontaine woman is facing a theft charge after police say she attempted to leave the Walmart in Urbana with more than $120 in unpaid items on Saturday, December 6.
According to the Urbana Police Division, officers were called to the Walmart on East U.S. Route 36 just before 5 p.m. after a store employee reported stopping a suspected shoplifter. The suspect, 31-year-old Charlene L. King, was spotted scanning some items at the self-checkout but intentionally skipping others. King then hid those unpaid items under the rest of her purchases and tried to leave the store.
The total value of the merchandise that wasn’t scanned was $126.58.
When officers arrived, they spoke with King in the store’s office. According to the report, King admitted she took the items without paying and said she was unemployed and struggling with no money. She was read her Miranda rights and cooperated with officers.
Walmart recovered all of the merchandise. King was issued a summons and charged with Theft Without Consent, a first-degree misdemeanor under Ohio law. Due to a technical issue with the fingerprint machine, her prints could not be taken at the time.
King was released from the scene and will be required to appear in court.
