An Ocala woman was arrested Sunday after she went on a shopping spree at the Summerfield Wal-Mart and then returned the unpurchased items for a refund.
Michelle Lynn Hartman, 32, fled the store after being confronted by a loss prevention officer and was later arrested by Marion County deputies, a sheriff’s office report states.
Hartman came into the story carrying a Wal-Mart bag, went to the home goods department and selected several items valued at $59.15. Those included: a 20-count Charmin toilet paper pack, several Command hooks, OxiClean laundry detergent and Tide. After placing the items in her shopping bag, Hartman went past the cash registers to the customer service counter and returned the items for cash using an old receipt, the report says.
A loss prevention officer confronted Hartman at the exit and asked her to accompany him to an office inside the store, but she refused and left. She was located a short time later and after being placed under arrest, she admitted to the theft, the report says.
Hartman was taken to the Marion County Jail and charged with petit theft. She was held on a $500 bond.