A Kissimmee woman was arrested for theft after mis-scanning merchandise at Walmart.
Loss prevention associates of Walmart, located at 2501 Citrus Blvd., observed 44-year-old Julie Ann Velez and her female friend at a self-checkout register around 10:10 p.m. Monday, according to an arrest report from the Leesburg Police Department.
While reviewing security footage, they noticed Velez mis-scanning merchandise and putting it into a shopping cart. The pair then proceeded to the front entrance, where they were confronted by loss prevention. Her friend stopped, but Velez just left the unpaid items and drove off in a silver 2018 Jeep SUV, the report said.
Her friend later told law enforcement she was unaware that Velez mis-scanned anything. She also called Velez, who refused to come back to the store or identify herself. When asked for her whereabouts, her friend stated she should be at her residence, located at El Sereno Apartments, 600 N Grove St., Eustis, the report said.
Officers with the Eustis Police Department subsequently responded to the apartment, spotting her in the living room with her husband, the report said. When the officers made themselves known, they watched through a window as the couple quickly went toward the back of their bedroom. Her husband was heard saying, “You know what you did.”
Velez came outside moments later and was detained. She later stated she did not go with loss prevention because she felt she did not have to, the report said.
She was arrested on charges of retail petit theft (one prior conviction) and retail theft (resist merchant). She was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $2,000 bond.