Crime & Safety

Cops: Employees Caught Stealing from Target

Target employees caught on covert surveillance camera allegedly tampering with store price tags and voiding merchandise on cash register, police say.

 

Two Chicago women employed by an Oak Lawn big box store were charged with theft after both were observed on video stealing and under ringing merchandise, reports said.

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Gweneth J. Wilson, 21, and Sommer J. Jones, 19, both were charged with theft under $300.

were called to Target at 4120 W. 95th St. at 5:32 p.m. August 9, where both women were being detained by store security.

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According to the report, an internal investigation on Wilson began July 31, when she was spotted on a covert camera placed in a staging area selecting assorted clothing from the women’s department.

Police said Wilson entered the fitting room with the clothing while Jones stood outside the door. Wilson emerged from the fitting room and went to the staging area where she separated the merchandise into two piles.

Later in the evening, Wilson went back to the staging area and grabbed one of the piles of clothing and placed a teal shirt that she had previously purchased and a store receipt on top of the bag, the report said.

Soon after Wilson left the staging area, a store team leader examined the contents of the bag. Police said the store team leader noted that the price tags on some of the garments had been torn in half.

At 11:56 p.m., Wilson was observed picking up the bag and her purse before heading to punch out, reports said. Wilson and Jones are seen leaving the building with Wilson carrying the bag with $83 worth of allegedly stolen merchandise.

Another live surveillance sting was set up several days later. Police said that at 8:02 p.m. August 8, Wilson approached the front cash registers pushing a shopping cart with assorted merchandise. Even though there were cashiers with shorter lines, police said that Wilson waited in Jones’ line for several minutes.

According to the report, Jones rang up 13 items for Wilson and placed them into a bag. Police said that Jones rang up an additional eight items for Wilson, but performed a line voice for each item.

After placing the items in Wilson’s bag, Wilson exited the store carrying the voided items totaling $83.96, police said.

Both women are due back in court on August 28.


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