UNSOLVED: String of thefts at Belk, Walmart in Whiteville

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — The Whiteville Police Department is looking for several people in a string of thefts happening at all times of the day at the city’s Walmart and Belk.

Police say it has been going on for months costing the stores thousands of dollars and the people behind it remain unsolved.

Lt. Andre Jackson with the Whiteville Police Department said people are filling up shopping carts with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and just walking out of the store using the front door or the fire exits. He said it started in November and December of last year.

“It’s starting to pick up rapidly,” Jackson said.

He said most of it is happening during store hours.

“Some of them have been removing the, they call it spider wrap sensors from the merchandise and some of them are just going ahead and walking out with it,” Jackson said. “They don’t care.”

He said they also do not care about hiding their face and there is a wide range of bandits. The suspects are women and men of all ages.

“Probably from 20 years old probably to about 40,” Jackson said.

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He said they are taking a wide range of items.

“From clothing to tools to whatever they can get their hands on, whatever they think they can use for themselves or they can do a resale on or even do a resale for drugs,” Jackson said.

In one case, the suspects took a long list of items including things like pizza, pork chops, diapers, and baby wipes all adding up to more than $1,200 worth of stolen merchandise.

“There is one report here from Belk recently, we’re talking $3,900 that walked out of the store,” Jackson said.

In that case, Jackson said there were four people involved.

In some cases, he said the suspects are taking items and then trying to return them.

“Angel Strickland and Sherry Perez,” Jackson said. “They were acting, acting together. Strickland went to Wal-mart stole a lawn mower and a trailer and days later took it back to Wal-mart and tried to get a refund for it.”

“Is that how they are also getting caught?”
“Yes ma’am. And we are charging them for obtaining property by false pretenses which is a felony.”

Jackson said they have made a few arrests, but there are still looking for several people.

How can you help?

“Hopefully the pictures that we provide, they can tell us who these people are,” Jackson said. “Be anonymous, call 911 or here at the Police Department and just help us find out who these people are so we can get them arrested.”

He also says you need to make sure you hold onto your receipts, because the suspects are looking to steal them too.

“Most of the time, if they don’t have a receipt, They’ll go find a receipt in the parking lot, pick it up and what they’ll do is, they’ll go into the store, find that item, and take it up to customer service and say they had just bought it and tried to get a refund,” Jackson said.

If you recognize any of the people in those photos or have any information, please contact the Whiteville Police Department.