MONROE — Everyone’s been there.
They finish shopping, get back to the car or the house, and realize they forgot something, like the milk.
That happened to two women on Sunday evening at the Monroe Walmart. The problem was, all their shopping had been shoplifting, and they’d forgotten to steal milk.
So they went back, and they got caught. Both now may face felony theft charges.
In all, 208 stolen items were recovered, valued at $2,587.
“I have seen a few higher dollar amount shoplifts but never close to over 200 items,” Monroe police Sgt. Steve Clopp wrote in a memo about the theft.
The initial report from WalMart indicated that two women ran outside with three carts of merchandise without paying for it.
One of the women had staged her second cart near an entrance and darted back inside for it, Monroe police spokeswoman Debbie Willis said. They loaded up in a Dodge Stratus and took off.
Within about 20 minutes, Monroe officer Devin Tucker spotted the car headed back toward the store. He pulled it over and saw the backseat was full of merchandise, according to Clopp’s report.
The women, 28 and 37, both of Everett, were arrested for investigation of second-degree theft. Under state law, theft becomes a felony when the goods are worth more than $750.
They reportedly gave permission for officers to search the car. When police opened the trunk, “it was also completely full of merchandise,” Clopp wrote.
“The driver stated that they came back because they forgot to steal milk and they needed it,” he wrote.
The women said they had stolen the toys and clothes for their children, Willis said. The items also included a tricycle, scooters, bedding, dishes and women’s underwear.
Investigators determined the total dollar amount by having a cashier ring up all the items.
Monroe police are part of a regional anti-shoplifting group whose participants include Albertsons, Safeway, Kohl’s and Lowe’s.
They get together to share notes — and surveillance images of frequent suspects.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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