Sumter County Sheriff?s Office seeks help in identifying shoplifter
 

On June 3, 2023, a retail theft occurred at 270 Heald Way, The Villages, within Sumter County, at the Walmart Neighborhood Market. It was determined a female entered the store, selected multiple items, proceeded to the self-checkout where she canned the items, and ultimately left the store without paying for the items. At the end

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Can anyone read this story and NOT feel good about the quality of law enforcement around here?

A lot of us come from areas where shoplifting cases are seen as a waste of time for the law to pursue. Not here. If things hold true to form I'm pretty confident that the people involved in this will be apprehended.

Retailers experience a 50% higher rate of loss when using self-checkout systems. This statistic is a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with self-checkout systems.Apr 12, 2023

And if they catch this person, the excuse will be " it's not my fault, I'm not trained in scanning " LOL

Since the thief was in a golf cart, I guess we can probably assume they are a Villages resident, so should be easy to identify the culprit. We all pay for people who shoplift.

They seriously need to upgrade the quality of the security cameras to a higher resolution. And yes, shoplifting needs to taken seriously and prosecuted, all of us honest law abiding citizens have to pay higher prices because of it.

I think it entirely possible that this is not a case of intentional theft. For those who don't click on the link... a woman went to self check-out. She scanned her items which included alcohol. You cannot self check alcohol because your age needs to be verified. A Walmart employee came and the woman produced her ID to prove her age. Then she took her bags and left.

I know my driver's license is in the same wallet as my credit card. When I self check-out I need to take out my wallet, use the credit card, and I am done. She had to take out her wallet and perhaps even remove her ID. Easy to see how one could feel like you've completed the needed steps.

I would only add that the quality of the photo produced is terrible. One would think at this new and recently remodeled Walmart there would be high quality images available from the self check out camera. EDIT: typing while above comment re cameras was posted

That's exactly what my first thought was...she thought she was finished and left.

Oopsie
 

Precisely our immediate thoughts. Hell, I'm just as likely to forget and leave my dern wallet sitting there. . .

did an alarm go off when she left the store? is there a video showing her to be in a rush to get away? is this the only picture of this?
I am also guessing that she accidentally did this. unless of course there is past incidences.....

Further pondering
 

Further pondering has me picturing the next shopper checking out and noticing that the total is too high and the list of items too long. No idea how long the subsequent steps might take to start running down the "culprit". Should she pack a lunch when comes into the sheriff's office to turn herself in??

Guess I still haven't gotten over the shock that stores offer this "self check-out" option, given what I've come to understand about human nature. Honor systems don't even seem to have that fine a record at the Ivies. I think I've read that groceries have something like a 1% profit margin. Can't wrap my head around how that and self check-out - along with the "usual" "slippage" could work.

Some TOTV's days seem to be much more entertaining than others. :-)

I have never been asked for an ID at Walmart to purchase alcohol at the self checkout. They just push a button to allow the purchase. Walgreens does require ID, but Walmart and Publix do not.

I suppose if you look obviously over age 21, they feel they don't need to check ID. Reasonable for a store serving a large Villages customer base.

I have relayed to the person overseeing the self check outs that with a choice to get a receipt there, email it, or text it that there would be an opportunity to steal - just say I never got the email or text. Stupid idea - get your receipt when you pay!

I agree, but Walgreens always requires an ID, regardless of how old you look.

I am confused. I walked up to a register and there was a posted payment due so when I asked the clerk how can I owe the amount when I didn’t. even start ringing up my items? I was told someone did just shoplift. Within a few days there will be cameras at each checkout, do they not work or are there stations that still need cameras?

I don't think cameras would be very effective. An alarm at each station would be more effective, but someone would probably sue the store for falsely accusing them of stealing.

The story does not make much sense?

Did she scan or can the items? Try to enter her driver's license rather than a credit card? What about the receipt? Did she get one?

It sounds like she scanned them, but did not pay.

Depends on type of alcohol
 

Wines, beer you can use the self check section. There the associate will came and puts in the over ride code and you are good to go.
Hard liquor, now that is a different story. For starters, I have not seen hard liquor sold in the same area where wines, beer or any normal grocery items are sold.

Walmart has a liquor store next to the regular store. They don't require an ID in the liquor store either, but they don't have self checkout. Liquor is not allowed to be sold in the grocery store.

They usually have people keeping an eye on transactions at self check out at the Oxford Super Walmart.

I often have to devise a way to make sure I get everything checked out.

I still believe in Santa Clause

Agree. I can easily see where this was unintentional. Why would someone show their drivers license if their intent was to shoplift??? She scanned and bagged everything and then asked for help with her alcohol purchase thus breaking the routine and taking her mind off the final stage. Best thing to do is contact her and tell her to get her butt into Walmart/sheriff and get this resolved

When the 'Heist' is solved, it will probably turn out the getaway driver stole the cart as well.:icon_wink:
Cart looks to have a set of golf clubs with it as well

When the story hit the Sumter Sheriff's page, a person wrote this, "This looks like the same lady that did this at a publix I was at in the villages a few months ago. Woman rang up all her items and then asked the clerk for her help to assist with verifying age. Afterwards the lady walked right out without paying for her stuff my son and I quickly helped the associate look for her and she jumped on a golf cart and booked it. But man this looks so much like the same woman from that day. Same exact scenario just was maybe in May when this happened." She's a serial thief.

There usually is a green light to show when a station is available to ring out. If the light is unlit that means station is not available because it is closed or in use. Perhaps having a station light colored yellow when in use ( purchase incomplete) would warn the station monitor and any customer in advance. Make it easier for everyone

The news story did not say that the woman showed her driver's license. Typically, Walmart does not ask to see a driver's license for older people.

They need someone standing at the door to check your purchase receipt.

If the stores were really worried about this, then they should get rid of the self checkout....

I hope they don't get to that point. Walmart has far too much business to efficiently check everyone's receipt at the door.