An Ocala woman accused of entering a local Walmart with her two children and using an empty car seat to steal multiple items, including baby clothes, has pleaded not guilty.
On Friday, January 16, an Ocala Police Department officer responded to the Walmart located at 4980 E Silver Springs Boulevard in reference to a theft incident that had just occurred. The female suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Molly Elizabeth Money, had allegedly pushed past a loss prevention associate before fleeing from the parking lot in a car, according to the arrest report.
In a statement, the associate advised that Money was observed entering the store with her two children. She allegedly began placing merchandise into an empty car seat that was placed in a shopping cart, and the car seat was then covered with a blanket.
According to the report, Money then used a self-checkout register to pay for some of the items in her cart before attempting to leave the store. The associate made contact with her inside the store and attempted to recover the unpaid merchandise.
Money allegedly pushed the cart into the associate before running into the parking lot. The associate followed her and was able to obtain her vehicle’s license plate number, which was then used by police to locate her registered address.
An officer noted in the report that one of Money’s children was still sitting in the cart when it was pushed into the associate.
The report stated that the theft incident was captured on surveillance footage, which corroborated the associate’s statement. The unpaid merchandise was valued at over $150 and included multiple toys, cups, plant seeds, and “a large quantity of baby clothes.”
On Saturday, January 17, officers responded to Money’s home and knocked on the front door. Footsteps were heard running towards a back room, and the officers observed through a window that Money was with a small child, according to the report.
Money eventually exited the residence and was placed under arrest. After being read her Miranda rights, Money allegedly referred to the incident as “a mistake” and claimed that she “put most of the items back.”
A criminal history search of Money revealed that she was previously issued a trespass warning for Walmart on two separate occasions, in October of 2022 and January of 2023, in connection with separate theft incidents. She was also previously convicted of felony theft in April of 2006.
Money was booked into Marion County Jail, and she was released the following day after posting bond. She has been charged with retail petit theft, resisting a merchant, and trespassing.
Marion County Court records show that Money is being represented by a public defender, and she is scheduled to appear in court this week for an arraignment hearing.