Thursday, November 12, 2015
Shoplifters Charged In Several Cases
Lawrenceburg Now
Law enforcement officers have been asked to investigate a number of instances of shoplifting in recent days, most reported at a single Lawrenceburg business.
Lawrenceburg Police officers responded to Walmart on North Locust Avenue Thursday where loss prevention personnel reported they had confronted a man who was attempting to leave the premises with $7.82 worth of women’s makeup. During the interview, reports show that the man shoved the loss prevention officer, threw the merchandise, ran to a vehicle, then fled from the property. At the time reports were filed, his identity was unknown.
Also on Thursday, a citation for shoplifting was issued to Bryce David Gann, age 31, of 3607 Holly Grove Road, Lascasses, TN. Gann was accused of opening a Red Bull drink while inside Walmart on North Locust Avenue, and drinking it without paying for it, then obtaining a second and attempting to leave without paying. The drinks had a value of $6.54.
Police officers were called to Walmart late Friday when forty-seven year old Torges Street resident Tonya Lynn Coffey was detained for stealing $71.18 worth of merchandise. Coffey was ordered to answer the charge in General Sessions Court on December 28th. Walmart officials also advised her that she was prohibited from entering any other Walmart store until the matter was settled in court.
Officers were called back to Walmart on Saturday when Fourth Street resident Thomas Clark, age 23, was found to be shoplifting a belt valued at $16. Clark is slated to appear in General Sessions Court on December 28, as well.
Also on Saturday, officers were called to issue shoplifting citations to Kathy Jean McGee, 59, and Lanny Tim Berryhill, 22, both of 10 Grinnell Drive. They pair had been detained by Walmart personnel. They reported that McGee had cut the security bands off of four rings. She was reportedly wearing the rings on her fingers when confronted. Also, they reported that Berryhill had brought a comforter inside the store with him, then concealed merchandise inside of it. Officials said he attempted to pay for a few items at a self-checkout, but was confronted before leaving the premises with the other items. Altogether, the items had a value of $81.67.
Officers were also summoned to Walmart on Monday after loss prevention personnel stopped Cynthia Mishel Short, 43, of 196 Elm Street, Iron City, when she attempted to leave the premises without paying for merchandise, including a belt, watch, makeup, and other items. They were valued at $66.95.
McGee, Berryhill, and Short were all ordered to appear in General Sessions Court on December 28th.
Rebecca Ann Bates, 58, of 607 Garrison Road, Hohenwald was cited for shoplifting at Walmart on Tuesday. Loss prevention officers reported observing as she carried $17.61 worth of items out of the store without paying for them. The items included a toy guitar, Pepsi, Coke, popcorn, and chicken tenders. She, too, was scheduled a court date of December 28th.
A few hours later, officers were called back to Walmart after personnel reported noticing two women who were attempting to leave with several items of clothing and a dog sweater for which they had not paid. The items were valued at $96.51. Priscilla Lee Anderson, 37, of Houston Drive in Columbia and Jennifer Elizabeth Davis, 43, of 3248 Buffalo Road, Ethridge, were both issued citations for shoplifting. Both are scheduled to answer the charges in General Sessions Court on February 25.
Police officers responded to Sears on North Locust Avenue on Sunday where Lisa Gail Watts, age 48, of 603 Third Street had been detained. Store officials reported watching as she placed a Craftsman 46 piece wrench/socket set, a Craftsman 54 piece power driving set, and a Black and Decker snake light inside of a large purse and attempted to leave the building.
Employees said when Watts was first confronted she handed over the snake light, but denied having taken other items. She eventually told police officers that she had attempted to steal the items as Christmas gifts for her boyfriend. They had a combined value of $115. Watts was cited for theft of property/merchandise and scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on December 4, 2015.
