Police Blotter: Shoplifting at Walmart, Giant Eagle

received the following reports of shoplifting:

• A loss prevention agent at called police at 3:58 p.m. Dec. 2 to report he had watched as a 77-year-old Akron woman concealed miscellaneous merchandise in her purse and two cans of cat food in her pants pockets. The six concealed items totaled $62.83. The agent said the woman paid for some other store merchandise then headed for the exit doors, where she was stopped by the agent and taken to the Walmart security office. Police said the woman admitted to the theft, was arrested, processed at the scene and released with a summons to appear in court on a misdemeanor theft charge.

• A loss prevention agent called police at 3:32 p.m. Dec. 4 regarding a suspected shoplifter who had left the store and gotten into a 2003 Chevrolet Express van in the parking lot. The agent said he observed the man carrying a $25 hooded sweatshirt around the store before he put it on and left without paying. Fairlawn officers located the van in the west end of Walmart’s parking lot. The suspect, a 31-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was arrested, processed at the scene and released with a summons to appear in court on a misdemeanor theft charge.

• A 20-year-old Fairlawn man was charged with theft and resisting arrest after trying to shoplift a bottle of Parrot Bay Rum valued at $11.99 from at 2:01 a.m. Dec. 7. Police said a sergeant from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office working uniformed security at the store saw the man attempt to leave the store without paying for the rum. The sergeant tried to stop the man, but he fled on foot and was caught in the parking lot after a short struggle. A Fairlawn officer arrived and arrested the man for theft and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors, then transported him to the Summit County Jail.