On March 14, 2023 at approximately 7:30 pm an officer was dispatched to Walmart in reference to a female shoplifting. When the officer arrived on scene, Loss Prevention advised him that they had observed the female skipping multiple items and placing them into bags as she was scanning merchandise. They further advised the officer that they had stopped the female at the exit doors as she was leaving and had taken her to the back to conduct a shopping cart audit. The female identified herself as Laura Lynn Yates and was accompanied by her six-year-old child. 

The officer advised Mrs. Yates of her Miranda Rights and she agreed to speak with him. She stated that she had not knowingly missed any items while scanning her items but that she might have accidentally missed some. When Mrs. Yates was advised that there were too many items skipped to have been an accident, she blamed her child who she stated had been assisting her. Loss prevention advised that the female was observed on camera and that the child had handed her items to scan but had not placed any items into bags. 

After employees finished auditing the shopping cart, they discovered that 28 items valued at $250.88 had not been scanned before Mrs. Yates attempted to leave the store with the other bagged items that she’d scanned. Due to the amount stolen and Loss Prevention having video of a previous theft by Mrs. Yates, she was charged with shoplifting. Loss Prevention requested that a misdemeanor citation with her court date be issued in lieu of arrest due to Mrs. Yates having her young child with her and her stating she had no one else to watch her child for her. Mrs. Yates was banned from all Walmart properties.