Accused Shoplifter Leaves Purse Behind

A female who shopped at Target at Barrow Crossing on Jan. 3, 2013, is accused of fleeing the store wearing clothes she didn’t purchase —her own garments tucked inside her purse she left behind.

A deputy with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the store and met with a witness, who said he had been shopping with the female when they went into Target. The male said he decided to go sit in his vehicle and the female wanted to keep shopping. A short time later, he said, the female ran from the store and jumped into the vehicle, claiming someone was after her. The male said the female had left her purse, along with his cell phone, inside the store. An argument reportedly ensued and the female jumped out of the vehicle and ran off.

The deputy then spoke to a Target associate, who said the female had gone into a fitting room with several clothing items and concealed them in her purse. When an associate tried to speak to the female, she reportedly pushed the associate and fled the store wearing stolen clothing — a shirt and pants valued at $40. According to an incident report, the female left behind approximately $190 in merchandise inside her purse.

The Target associate said the store did not wish to pursue charges because a loss prevention associate was not on duty at the time. The incident, however, had been captured on the store’s surveillance video.

The deputy then made contact with the male who had accompanied the female into the store and asked if he knew she was stealing clothing. The male told the deputy he did not know and that he was just trying to “sleep with her,” despite being warned by friends to avoid her. When the deputy asked which way the female ran when she exited the vehicle, the male said he didn’t know. 

Since the store did not want to pursue charges and the deputy couldn’t locate the female, no charges had been filed at the time the incident report was written.

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