Oh, can I at least call my job? >> Well, we'll we'll figure all that out shortly afterwards. All right. >> Can I Can I bond out or whatever? >> You're going to be released on subpoena right now cuz we're having issues with the jail right now. So, we're going to get you fingerprinted. And then >> on September 16th, 2021, a woman's attempt to sneak out of Home Depot with hidden tools crumbled under the watchful eyes of security cameras. What she thought would be a quick favor for her new job turned into a full-blown theft investigation and a ride in handcuffs. Watch the video to know what actually happened. >> Got the door. >> I don't know. There's more stuff in there. >> I got 51 to 52. They got her detailed at the door by the contractor. >> All right. >> I paid for it all. I'll never come back again. >> Oh, that's not what I'm worried about. And if you paid for it all, where's the receipt? >> He has it? >> He has it? >> Yes. >> Let's walk in there and find out. >> Okay. I don't I know you late for work. Uh, well, we're beyond that right now. All right. You're just going to have to be late. Unfortunately, we got called. We're going to investigate something. You will get a report if you need to go back to work as an excuse for whatever it is at work. But right now, we are investigating the possibility of a crime. So, >> I just don't want to go. >> We're going to figure everything out right now. Okay. So, you're going to have to say site. >> Can I just sign something? >> New Like I said, we're This isn't a bargaining deal. Like, we're in the middle of an investigation. Okay. So, lock prevention inside. Apparently, he has a receipt. I haven't identified her yet. >> Okay. >> You have a driver's license on you by chance, ma'am? >> I promise I'll never come back again. >> And that's all well and good, but like I said, we got our process to follow, right? >> Can you just ask them that? I'll never come back again. >> We'll figure that out. >> I'll stand by with her if you just want to go run. >> Yeah. >> So, what's going on today? Tell me everything. >> I'm a single mom. I'm just trying to get I just started a job and I'm just trying to make a good impression. >> Okay. >> And so that's why I'm saying I'll never come back again. >> Oh, no. I got you. >> So again, >> when um when you came into the store today, what did you come in the store for? >> Did you get the paint brushes? >> Paint brushes. and um my knee which I paid and and the wipes. What are they wip >> Okay. What card did you pay off of? Did you use a card or cash? >> Card. >> Card. You have the card with you? >> Yes. >> Okay. Are you able to pull up the bank statement saying that you paid for that stuff right now? >> Yeah, he's got the receipt. >> I know. And I'm having that officer go and get it, but I'm trying to >> I'm trying to find out what exactly you used. And your bank will reflect that you paid. How much did you pay? >> It was like $35. >> 35 for paint brushes. >> Yeah. >> Grease lightning. >> Lightning. And it was right there. That's uh everything she's getting paid for. >> What? What? Let me see the receipt that she did. >> I'll get it. >> So, what's this receipt for? Um >> she did pay for all this stuff. >> Okay. And that's the receipt for what she did? >> Yes, sir. I'll put this in the shopping cart here. >> Okay. >> It's all hers. >> She stood there like saying I paid I paid on Luke was going to unlock some invisible receipt. No proof, no bag, just shaky hands and a guilty face trying to sell the lie. And then the classic line, I won't come back like that's a coupon for forgiveness. Hate to break it to her. Panic mode ain't legal tender. Just own it before the cuffs do. >> I promise. >> All right. No, we we'll cover that when we get there. So, right now, I'm reading this. Tell me about this Ryobi 8V drill, a handheld sprayer, quick change cleaning kit, cabinet cleaner. Oh, that with the brush I think brush thing. >> Okay. So, they have video cameras here. All right. So, if we look at the video cameras, what are >> that? Just listen to what I'm saying. If we look at the video cameras, what are we going to see? This is your chance to be completely 100% truthful. >> Um, you didn't see that um that I put them in the plug. >> Mhm. >> And um I just did not scan the the drill set. Okay. >> Hey, how you doing? >> Doing good. Doing good. So, what do we got? >> It's a female. >> Yeah, we have we have her outside right now. >> She's a known shop. So, she's known to come in here and um pick up a whole bunch of merchandise and then she picks up shopping boxes, the moving boxes >> and then she'll actually hide the merchandise in between the boxes and then go to selfch checkout and only scan like two of the boxes and small items and walk out all the other power tools. Today when we saw it on the floor, you were able to hold on. Give me one second. Just gather that real quickly. >> No. >> Uh, promises are all good. >> It's up to the ticket. But >> please, I just don't want to lose this job. >> Well, you're not going anywhere right now. >> Okay. Like I said, we're conducting an investigation. >> All right. So, which uh register were you at? Show me. Were you vid Were you watching video footage? >> That was that. That's what I was trying to do until he comes back. >> No, he got me a receipt for This is what he did pay for right there. And apparently this is what he did. >> We're about 10 bucks short on that. Let's figure out what they want to do. >> Just just stand by with this officer still. Okay. >> One second. Just stand by here. Okay. cuz it is what it is at this point. We can't change the past, but we're here. We got to figure it out. You may be telling me the truth for all I know, but I can't take you at your word at the moment. >> No, I I >> I know. But again, I can't let you go. We're there's nothing up for debate right now. I can't tell you that we're going to sign anything. I can't tell you what we're going to do until that officer gets back to me with what he saw and what they said. >> Sorry about that. Do you have uh any of the footage for this? >> I am going to have footage. I have footage at self check out where she only scans those uh let's see forth items >> and then I will have footage outside where I open up the box. You can see them chest and then her taking stuff out of her purse. >> So what was the items in a purse account for as well? Every single thing. >> Yes, sir. Uh not as far as I'm aware of. I just >> She knew exactly what game she was playing and still fumbled it. Cops gave her a shot to come clean, but she chose silence over sense. Like, do people really think stores aren't watching? It's tech era. Cameras catch more than the news. Acting slick in a surveillance jungle only makes the fall harder when receipts hit the fan. >> Her word for it. She took everything out that she didn't pay for. There might be more. There might not be. I'm not sure. >> Okay. All right. I'm going to go. While you're pulling up that video footage, uh, see if you could try to make sure you see save the part where she's actually, you know, taking items, placing them in nefariously doing all that stuff. So, see if you can try to find that for me. >> Okay. Uh, I'm going to deal with what's going on right here for right now. I'll be I'll be back to you unless you come back outside with us. Okay. How long have you been working? >> Only two weeks. >> Only two weeks. >> And I'm just trying to make a good impression. >> No, I understand that. And good impressions are are important. All right. But like I said, if this is just a misunderstanding, you're actually going to leave here with a police report. So that should excuse whatever they say. You were stopped for a formal investigation. This is this is exactly what it is. It's a formal investigation. You are detained. Okay? You're not under arrest yet, but you are detained pending this investigation. And because you are detained, you are not free to leave. Okay? I'm just being completely upfront with you. That's exactly how it is right now. There's people here that are alleging that you sold $490 worth of items. That's why I have an officer in there. looking at video camera footage and that's why I'm asking you what we're going to see. >> We have $49 for the drill. I guess for the drill >> tools are expensive. Like one drill could be 150 bucks. >> Tools are very expensive. >> I didn't realize that. >> You may not have realized it, but that's essentially what we got. >> By chance, is there any other item that you have right now in that bag that doesn't belong to you? Could we look? Here. All I have is my cigarette. >> What about this? >> That's mine. That's mine. >> Do you have a receipt for it? >> Well, no. I have in my car. I actually have more paint in my car. I actually have more paint in my car. That is just I was getting for work. >> Why would it be in your purse? >> Cuz I was going to carry it in to work for the paint brush or whatever. >> I promise you, if you look in my car, I have paint in my car. I don't believe here. >> I promise. >> Is there anything else in there? >> No. >> Anything else at all? >> Nothing. Just my cigarettes and stuff. >> That's where? >> Yeah. >> So, what >> are you here with someone else or are you just here by yourself? >> I'm here just trying to get to work. >> Okay. Well, you're here by by yourself. No one else is with you. Okay. >> Okay. You tell them I'll sign anything you want me to sign or believe that. >> Yeah, I did. Yeah, I have the actual here. >> This is the receipt that was actually paid for. >> When they rolled the footage, she finally cracked. Admitted she didn't scan the drill and had no clue those tools cost serious money. Her excuse, she just wanted to show initiative as the new hire. So apparently stealing tools in this modern era is the new LinkedIn hustle. However, cops weren't buying the TED talk, especially after finding a whole paint can stuffed in her purse. >> This is the one that uh wasn't. And I told her exactly what we're here for, exactly what that is. >> I mean, it's still 1095 regardless because even though you still need the photo, they're going to >> Yeah, I know. So, I mean, it's your call. So, you want to wait till after we get the band form and all that going? >> I just want to lose my job. >> I got you. Just give us a few more minutes. All right. I'm going to get the paperwork started. >> Am I going to jail? >> Oh, not that I'm aware of. Like I said, he's just getting paperwork right now. >> Okay. I'm just going to text my phone. >> Let let your work know that >> that you were stopped for a formal investigation by the police. >> I'll just tell them to stop by. >> Tell them it's a formal investigation. Okay. >> Okay. You guys getting stopped by cops? Could be traffic enforcement or anything. No, we're not here for traffic. We're here because somebody picked you for a suspect in a shop list. >> Okay. >> How long do you think? >> Uh there's no telling at this point depending on the paperwork. Do you have anything that we should be aware of like warrants, probation, parole? Nothing. Okay. How often do you come to this Home Depot? >> Just whenever I need need stuff for work. >> Whenever you need stuff for work. >> Yeah. >> Atmark. >> Yeah. For cleaning and you see the cleaning and it's going to patch up the walls >> and stuff. I'll never come back again. >> I got you. And I believe you. I'm leaving. But like I said, we can't just let you go right now. >> Where is your daughter? >> She's at She has virtual school. >> Virtual. How old is she? >> 12. >> She's 12. Is there anybody with her? >> No. >> No. >> You don't think I'm going to? >> I don't think so. I don't know that cuz I'm not the investigating officer. He is. I can't tell you for certain what he would do. >> I mean, I admit I did. You know, I scan it. >> You didn't scan it. Was that why why didn't you scan it? >> Oh, well, for the drill. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And that was mine. >> Oh, >> what about the other items? >> No, I >> So, all of those items were paid for, >> but there was a list of other items besides the drill that worked. Yeah, the scotch board. It just scotch like scotch work. So, I just didn't want to have nothing. I was trying to do like I said, clean up the store and get things. I mean, I can pay for it. >> Okay. Well, why didn't you? >> Cuz like I said, >> this part hits hard. When she was stealing, she didn't give a damn about her kids at home. The moment she got caught, suddenly she remembered she had a daughter waiting. That's the sting. When people forget their kids during the crime but remember them during the cuffs. Using your child as a shield, that's not parenting. That's deflecting. >> I haven't got yet. I was trying to If you're buying the stuff for the purpose of maintaining your workplace. >> Yeah. >> Why didn't your workplace give you the money to buy it? >> Cuz I was trying I was trying to kind of show initiative, I guess. >> I got you. Okay. But but you you're telling me that you >> Okay. You're telling me that you purposely neglected to pay for those items? >> Well, no. I actually uh I actually went to um hit the one if you if you look at the boxes. I went and hit one and um I honestly wasn't trying to pay attention, but the um honestly the scratch I did not [Music] which I can pay for. I'm being honest. >> Okay. >> This is the best job I've ever gotten. >> You're good. But did she also take a small paint can? >> She could have. I didn't see that if she did. >> Okay. Cuz there was a small paint can that that's in her purse as well. Um she said that she has other paint cans in her truck. She just had the small one that was in her purse cuz she was going to take it to work. So I just wanted to verify that actually was something that was taken or not. >> Oh no. I can't that she didn't get that. She did. But here she is right here. This is a good example when I'm talking about like she's a known shoper. She's been she's probably like her 10th time. This is actually the time she probably got caught this time. >> And the other time I just pulled her credit card and I saw what she was doing. >> Um so you can see she would come right here. She had this the boxes in her cart and >> this is where we actually watch her on the floor. She opened up the boxes and hides the merchandise in between the boxes. >> Okay. >> So you see them right here. >> Took her a while to select one. >> So she didn't even like really remove the items. She just hid them there. And then I'm assuming she used the scanner just to scan what was on the surface and then roll out. >> Yeah. So there she's hiding it in between the two boxes. >> Okay. >> At that point they're pretty concealed >> from the side at least. >> So then after that she will walk towards the register and you see her transaction right here. >> Okay. I honestly expected her to pay for everything in the cart except for the power tools >> cuz every other time I've seen her do it, she has paid for everything except for the power tools. >> You know what I'm saying? She does go down to the paint aisle. Um, but she picked up a small paint tray that's in the car. Um, there's no camera shot down there. >> Oh, there is not? >> No, sir. It's a It's unfortunate, but I don't think we have any small mini paint cans anyways. >> Like about this one like this size? >> No, sir. I don't think we do. All the ones we have are big. >> Okay. Cuz I usually like for small like sample size and stuff like that. Um, they'd be there. >> All right. Well, I mean obviously since it's just shy of $10 of felony, we can't take her to jail, but we're still going to arrest her. Yes, sir. And it's going to be obviously misdemeanor uh shoplifting until you know the detectives obviously cuz all the other CRNs went probably being held a detective. So with the case being built for any of the items that were stolen successfully. >> While she begged not to lose her job, the cops reviewed security footage that painted a very different picture. There she was playing box Tetris strategically hiding power tools between moving boxes then gliding through selfch checkout scanning only the most innocent looking items. and the other just are conclusively tagged to her. And obviously that's something that detectives will figure out and then if it comes down to the warrant and then arrest for whatever else happens after that, but we're still going to take it right now. Okay. >> She's going to be released on subpoena unfortunately cuz co won't allow sir misdemeanor arrests. Um unless it's something that's of a high and aggravated nature. >> Um so we're she's going to be coming back just because obviously she parked here. We're not going to leave her in front of the store. We're going to leave her by her truck >> and then after that uh we'll be good from there. I just want to give you guys some transparency just to let you know that what we're doing today. Okay. Sounds good. >> Other than that, um, do you all need anything else? >> No. No, sir. Thank you. >> All right. Awesome. Thank you all for calling. Appreciate it. >> All right, ma'am. I just need you to sign this form. It's a criminal trespass form. This basically states that you're no longer welcome on the premises. If you're ever calling the premises again, obviously, this is grounds for automatic arrest. Okay. Just walk over here so you can sign on a flat surface. All right. Other than that, I'm going to need you to do me a favor. I'm going to put your hands behind your back. No, unfortunately, I'm going to have to. Can you take the bag off? >> Oh, can I at least call my job? >> Well, we'll we'll figure all that out shortly afterwards. All right. >> Can I Can I bond out or whatever? >> You're going to be released on Tina right now cuz we're having issue with the jails right now. So, we're going to get you fingerprinted and then we're going to bring you back over here and then you'll be able to go home. >> Mhm. >> In the event, you know, something like this happens and the arrest is more effective where you actually would go to jail. And that's something that has to be dealt with for the state. We have to make sure that whoever is going to be able to come over and take care of the child in your absence clearly. But again, this is clearly something you need to really look at yourself at when it comes down to taking care of your child, taking care of your family, taking care of yourself, cuz isn't that really the life that you really want to live? Clearly. And whether you may have gotten away with it a few times or not, obviously, it ultimately comes back to haunt you. And unfortunately today was a bad instance. This is not something you really need to start putting yourself through. So I'm not here to ask you for your for, you know, for yourries or receiving your forgiveness or anything like that. This is ultimately up to you to make the decision to actually seriously reflect on yourself and think about the choices that you're trying to make because the last thing, like I said, we want is either you going to jail for something more egregious, whether it be a felony shoplifting charge or getting arrest because you miss a court date and you got a warrant or for something that's much more egregious. And then obviously putting your yourself out of commission, but also putting your daughter >> into either the care of someone else, whether it be family or in the charge of the state. >> It's it's much bigger than than just you now. It it truly is. And this is what you really need. >> This wasn't her first rodeo either. Store staff recognized her from previous shopping trips that followed a similar script. Grab expensive stuff, camouflage with boxes, and dash. While the charges today fall under misdemeanor territory, officers made it crystal clear. If previous thefts can be proven, the stakes will get higher fast. She was charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and issued a criminal trespass warning. So, if you enjoyed the video, hit that like button and drop your thoughts in the comments. Let's see who stands out the most. The best comment gets pinned. And don't forget to share this video with your friends and family so they don't miss out on the fun. And now, here's a challenge for you. On your screen, you're seeing the four best playlists. Click on anyone and I promise you won't regret it. You'll enjoy this one. See you next time.