FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
Melissa Meredith, of Prattville, has been charged with (14) counts of Theft of Property 4th Degree, processed and later transported to the Elmore County Jail, with a total bond of $7,000.
On July 12, 2023, Millbrook police responded to Walmart with regard to a theft in progress. Upon arrival, officers made contact with loss prevention personnel, who identified the alleged offender, who was later identified as Melissa Meredith, a 40-year-old Prattville resident. Ms. Meredith was detained and transported to the Millbrook Police department, where she was placed under arrest, being charged with Theft of Property 4th Degree. During this investigation, it was discovered that Ms. Meredith had multiple outstanding warrants for her arrest, stemming from previous alleged thefts committed at the same business.
Since the advent of self-checkout at retail businesses, we are seeing more and more cases where people attempt to avoid scanning items or place items of lessor value over the bar codes when scanning the merchandise they are purchasing in hopes of “saving money.”
Most retailers have become wise to this practice and are on high alert. Just because you don’t have someone standing over your shoulder, it would be an unwise assumption to think your actions are not monitored. Most businesses have adequate security and surveillance systems in place, as well as employ loss prevention personnel that monitor this activity. You may walk out of a business today without being apprehended, but that doesn’t mean that you got away with committing a theft.
As is the case with this alleged offender, at some point you will be identified and apprehended. If you’ve committed multiple thefts, as is alleged in this case, you will face prosecution on multiple charges of theft. In the end, it’s a losing proposition.
