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Deputies: Woman Stole from Walmart More Than 20 Times in November

Michele Lindsay Bowen | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests

In one case, she was using the price tag from a 37 cent can opener to cover the price tag of the original item as she scanned each item at the self-checkout register, Hernando deputies said.

HERNANDO COUNTY – A Spring Hill woman with a history of retail theft convictions has been accused of committing more than 20 retail/petit thefts at two Walmart stores during November, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.

Michele Lindsay Bowen, 38, was first arrested Nov. 27 and charged with two counts of Retail Theft, which is a felony because of her prior convictions.

Bowen was stopped by loss prevention officers while shopping at the Walmart at 13300 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville. Loss prevention personnel ssaid they recognized Bowen from video surveillance captured on
Nov 25 that showed her altering price tags on various items, including an HP Pavilion Laptop computer valued at $499.99.

Bowen was using the price tag from a 37 cent can opener to cover the price tag of the original item as she scanned each item at the self-checkout register. She was seen leaving the store and placing the stolen items inside her vehicle going back into the store and stealing another computer using the same scam, deputies said.

Bowen was trying to alter price tags once again on Nov. 27 when she was confronted by Walmart loss prevention, who called deputies. Deputies said Bowen refused to speak with them.

On Dec.16, a loss prevention officer reviewing video surveillance at the Walmart at 1485 Commercial Way in Spring Hill said he saw Bowen at a self-checkout register altering price tags before scanning items in her
shopping cart.

On this occasion Bowen was using a price tag from a piece of fabric valued at 23 cents as she scanned various items that included a battery jump box, children’s clothing, a tool set, and a speaker. The items were valued at $176.78 for which she paid a total of 92 cents.

On Dec. 17, deputies went to her home near Bassingthorpe Drive in Spring Hill, arrested her and charged her with one count of Petit Theft.

A subsequent investigation by Walmart loss prevention revealed that Bowen had visited both Walmart stores on a number of occasions throughout November. Deputies said a closer inspection of the videos showed Bowen altering price tags each time before scanning various items.

Between the two stores, Bowen committed 22 transactions where she was caught on video altering price tags during the month of November.

On Saturday (Jan. 5), deputies arrested Bowen on 22 additional counts of Retail/Petit Theft.

The total value of items taken from both Walmart stores totaled nearly $5,000, for which she paid less than $100 using the self-checkout register.

Bowen has two previous convictions for Retail Theft in Georgia back in 2012. Additional charges are pending further investigation as additional store video is reviewed.

Hernando Sheriff | Crime | Walmart Theft | Arrests | Tampabay News

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