From: Chief P.K. Johnson
Millbrook Police Department
On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, Millbrook police officers arrested Rodriquez D. Boggs, a 22 year old Millbrook resident, and Tre’ Anna L. Chappell, a 20 year old Millbrook resident, each being charged with 17 counts of Theft of Property 4th Degree, stemming from warrants obtained by Wal-Mart loss prevention personnel. According to court documents both individuals are alleged to have committed a series of thefts from the business from February 28, 2020 through April 12, 2020. Both individuals were arrested without incident, transported to the Millbrook Police Department, where they were processed and released on $4,250.00 bonds.
On Thursday, April 23, 2020, Millbrook police officers responded to 145 Kelley Blvd with regard to a reported theft. Responding officers were advised that loss prevention personnel had an employee that had been observed committing a theft on this date. Officers were also advised that the employee had been under surveillance for some time after loss prevention discovered an ongoing pattern of suspicious behavior displayed by the employee in question. Wal-Mart officials were able to document 17 incidents where the employee failed to pay for merchandise that he’d obtained and passed the last point of sale. The alleged offenses occurred from February 22, 2020 through April 23rd. The employee, Paul Anthony Bass, a 51 year old Elmore resident was detained and transported to the Millbrook Police Department, where he was placed under arrest being charged with 17 counts of Theft of Property 4th Degree. Bass was processed without incident and later released on a $4,250.00 bond.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more of this. We have entirely too many people that think they can go into these retail businesses and take property without paying for it. One of the most common ploys is for people to go through the self check-out aisle and scan some items, while failing to scan the more expensive items. Sometimes people just walk into a business, select property and walk out of the store like it’s their property. It really doesn’t matter what method you use. Once you walk past the last point of sale at any retail establishment without remitting payment, you’ve committed the crime of theft,” said Johnson.
“Most retail establishments have loss prevention personnel on staff to help limit or prevent these types of thefts from occurring. A lot of these businesses have also went to great expense to install state of the art surveillance systems to assist their loss prevention staff in monitoring their property, which enables them to detect and apprehend the people committing these crimes. Such is the case with these three alleged offenders arrested this week. Loss prevention professionals were able to review surveillance footage on hand and worked with law enforcement to identify the alleged offenders, at which point warrants were obtained and arrests made,” Chief Johnson stated.
“We have a great working relationship with our business community, and we work very closely with their loss prevention personnel to identify and apprehend the people committing these offenses. For those who continue to persist in committing these thefts, particularly in our local businesses, I would make this observation…… It’s not if you get caught, it’s when. Just this week we’ve arrested three individuals, one being an employee of the business, who were responsible for 51 counts of Theft of Property 4th Degree. That’s absolutely ridiculous and totally unacceptable. It is our intent to continue to pursue these cases and prosecute those committing these crimes to the fullest extent that the law will allow,” said Johnson.
Paul A. Bass 
Rodriquez D. Boggs
