Do You Know The Shoplifter’s Face?

The National Association for Shoplifting prevention states that there are approximately 27 million shoplifters (or 1 in 11 people) in our nation today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the last five years. Who are those people you may ask?  There is truly not one stereotype that fits the shoplifting type.  A police officer today was found guilty for shoplifting while having his three kids with him during the incident.  Other shoplifters include: teens, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives and even a contender for the California state senate are/or have been found guilty of shoplifting merchandise.

Follow the links below for more information about shoplifting.

Woman, teen arrested in shoplifting spree

FORT WALTON BEACH – A 51-year-old woman, and an 18-year-old boy were arrested for a shoplifting spree at a local department store, lawmen say.

The woman, Eva Anna Layton of Fort Walton Beach, and the boy, Grayson Lance Kasper of Niceville, are accused of going into Kohl’s on Beal Parkway and loading up a shopping cart with 15 swimsuits, three wallets, a bracelet, a necklace, two pairs of sunglasses, and a purse. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Layton went into the men’s fitting room and came out wearing the purse over her shoulder as if it belonged to her. The purse was allegedly filled with purloined merchandise.

She then went to the service counter where she tried to return two swimsuits and two swimsuit covers she had chosen from the floor.

When she was approached by a deputy, Layton allegedly refused to stop trying to return the items and asked the deputy to finish with her once she’d finished with her return. When the employee took Layton’s purse, Layton reportedly said the purse was hers and demanded the employee leave it alone.

Mary Hayashi’s campaign foe puts shoplifting case front and center

Mary Hayashi brought her campaign for an East Bay/South Bay state Senate seat to bemused sports fans the other night in Oakland, San Francisco and the Peninsula, as well as to her district, when she ran a 30-second TV ad in the middle of the Giants-Padres baseball game.

The upbeat spot, which one Democratic consultant not involved in the race estimated cost north of $50,000, focused on the Castro Valley politician’s support from women, students, minorities and the medical profession.

“Join local teachers, doctors, small business owners and nurses like me,” says a young woman in surgical scrubs. “Vote for Mary Hayashi for state Senate.”

Not surprisingly, the feel-good spot doesn’t mention the elephant in the campaign, which is Hayashi’s 2012 conviction for stealing $2,450 worth of clothes from a Neiman Marcus store in San Francisco.

Not to worry. Democratic Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski of Fremont, who’s running against Hayashi for the seat, has that covered.

In a new website titled, “Mug Shot Mary,” Wieckowski gleefully runs through the entire case, reminding voters that Hayashi was in the Assembly when she was arrested and is slated to remain on probation until 2015.

Just in case anyone thought he was being too subtle, Wieckowski adds that three state senators, including San Francisco’s Leland Yee, have been arrested or convicted of crimes in the past three months, and “now, Mary Hayashi wants to join them in the state Senate.”

Hayashi was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft, but pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor shoplifting charge. She was fined $180, put on three years’ probation and ordered to stay away from the Union Square store.

Highlands husband, wife accused of shoplifting

AVON PARK — At least for one married couple, the appropriate vow may have been till jail do we part.

The couple was arrested after being accused of attempting to shoplift nearly $1,000 of merchandise from the Wal-Mart in Avon Park.

Jennifer L. Barton, 29, and John Barton, 32, 714 Ruth St., were arrested by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and charged with retail theft in coordination with others.

A security guard reported he saw the couple load a shopping cart with electronics items, the report said.

As the couple headed toward the front of the store, John Barton told Jennifer Barton to “go,” and she headed out the store without purchasing the items, the report said.