Shoplifter arrested at Walmart’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ event, leaving police stunned
By Chris Williams
Police in Virginia taking part in “Shop With A Cop” at Walmart. (Credit: Chesterfield County Police)
The Brief
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- A suspected shoplifter tried to steal $1,400 worth of items during a “Shop With a Cop” event at a Virginia Walmart.
- Hector D. Velazquez Maldonado was caught by 50 officers after attempting to flee.
- Maldonado, with outstanding warrants, faces grand larceny charges.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. – Police in Virginia have been left stunned after a suspected shoplifter decided to steal during a “Shop with a Cop” event at a local Walmart.
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Chesterfield County police officers and sheriff’s deputies were at the annual holiday event at Walmart, where they help children pick out gifts.
Moments later, officers and deputies had to put aside their Christmas cheer to solve a crime.
“A member of the staff at Walmart came up to us and informed us they had a shoplifting in progress,” Chesterfield County Police Lt. James Lamb told CBS 6. “Between the sheriff’s department and police officers we had about 50 uniform personnel at the store.”
Law enforcement then spread out to quickly look for the suspect.
“As we approached from different directions, he tried to escape out the back of the store where he was apprehended,” Lamb added. “I think he was stunned.”
The suspect was caught and later identified as 32-year-old Hector D. Velazquez Maldonado, according to local news outlets. He had warrants out for his arrest for failure to appear in court on a previous shoplifting charge, as well as other charges.
Maldonado attempted to steal $1,400 worth of items from the store, according to police. He faces a charge of grand larceny.
The Source
- The information in this story came from a Facebook post by Chesterfield County Police in Virginia as well as CBS 6 in Richmond. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Incredible moment Louisiana good Samaritan gives cop a ride to catch shoplifter
Kelsey Baird, 34, was arrested after allegedly shoplifting at Dillard’s store in Slidell, Louisiana, right as she tried to escape in a getaway car.
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The suspected shoplifter announced, “I didn’t take anything!” (Image: BodyCam )
A kind-hearted good Samaritan offered a police officer a lift to apprehend a shoplifter.
Police Sgt. Jeff Kahrs was responding to a shoplifting incident at Dillard’s store in Slidell, Louisiana. Dillard’s does not have self-checkout, and customers are expected to pay for their items at a counter, where they’ll be helped by an employee.
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Upon seeing the officer, the shoplifter, later identified as 34-year-old Kelsey Baird, dropped the items she intended to steal and attempted to flee the store.
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In the video footage, Sergeant Kahrs tried to stop Baird, who raced out of the store and jumped into a car where her accomplice, 43-year-old Eric Boudreaux, was waiting to drive off.
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Khars started chasing the shoplifter on foot, but when a civiliian got his attention and offered him a ride, he took her up on it.
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She then turned and raced out of the store, with Khars following her on foot (Image: BodyCam)
In the body cam, Kahrs is seen approaching the suspected shoplifter.
Kahrs greets the woman, saying, “How are you doing ma’am?” and instantaneously, she announces,”I didn’t take anything!”
He asks her to go on a walk with her, most likely to the security office in the store, which she agrees to. The young woman starts walking with him and again says to him, “I didn’t take anything.”
The walk was short-lived and lasted only a few steps when the suspected shoplifter turned and sprinted out of the store.
Khars followed her, and while running after her, said into his two-way radio, “Foot pursuit from Dillards! Foot pursuit from Dillards! White female, gray top, blue jeans, brown hair…”
He caught up with the suspected shoplifter, but by the time he did, she had hopped into a silver car. The car then sped away, with Karhs radioing in, “Silver Buick headed toward Marshalls.”
At that point, Khars seemed a little defeated, but when a good Samaritan pulled up, saying, “Do you want to hop in?” he got his second wind.
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When the suspected shoplifter got into a car, it seemed like all was lost (Image: BodyCam )
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The police officer was able to catch up with the suspected shoplifter with the help of a civilian (Image: BodyCam)
Khars ran around the car, got into the passenger seat, and with the help of the civilian he was able to catch up with the silver Buick and both the driver and passenger were arrested.
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In the video, you can see Khars had backup with multiple officers on the scene and at least one gun was drawn.
The driver was pulled out of the car, handcuffed and then escorted to a squad car.
When the alleged shoplifter got out of the car, she said, “I didn’t take anything.”
