'Tis the Season for Walmart Security to Catch Shoplifters

Loss prevention agents at have been busy in recent days dealing with shoplifters, according to the following reports:

• A loss prevention employee called police at 8:38 p.m. Dec. 12 about a 31-year-old unemployed Cuyahoga Falls man who concealed $121 worth of miscellaneous hygiene items in his clothing and then exited the store. The man was arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft, then transported to the Macedonia Jail on an outstanding warrant issued by that department.

• Security reported that a customer left the store at about 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14 with an Xbox valued at $299. While the game unit was recovered, the suspect drove away in a waiting 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. A warrant on the misdemeanor theft charge was issued Dec. 14 for an unemployed Akron man, 33, who was then arrested at 1 p.m. Dec. 17 in the 3800 block of Darrow Road. After processing, the man was released on personal recognizance bond.

• A 16-year-old Cuyahoga Falls boy was stopped by security at 1:22 p.m. Dec. 14 after putting a PlayStation3 Call of Duty game valued at $59.96 and a Bluetooth headset for PS3 valued at $29.96 into his backpack and attempting to leave the store. The boy told police he took the items for a friend. He was issued a referral to Stow Youth Services for the misdemeanor theft offense and released to his mother.

• Police were called at 12:06 p.m. Dec. 18 regarding a customer who attempted to leave the store with two PNY 16 gigabyte flash drives he did not pay for. The items, with a combined value of $38, were found in the 18 year-old Akron man’s pocket without their packaging. He was arrested and issued a summons to appear in court on a misdemeanor theft charge.

• A security agent reported at 8:25 p.m. Dec. 18 that he watched as a 17-year-old Kent boy selected two bottles of Playboy Vegas men’s cologne with a combined value of $12.84 and an HDMI cable valued at $34. The boy reportedly walked to lawn and garden area, removed the packaging and placed the items inside of his coat. The agent stopped the boy after he passed the cash registers. He was arrested on a misdemeanor theft charge, issued a referral to Stow Youth Services and released to his mother.