From Millbrook Chief P.K. Johnson
Top Photo: at left is Carzell Hunter, at right is Ronald M. Harris, courtesy of Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.
On Thursday, October 31, 2024, Millbrook police responded to a theft in progress at Walmart, located at 145 Kelley Blvd, Millbrook Alabama. Responding officers were advised that two black males had obtained a large screen television from inside of the business and had placed the property inside a shopping cart, passing the last point of sale without remitting payment and exited the business.
A member of the department’s Street Crimes Unit was in the area of the business at the time the call was dispatched and was able to quickly locate two individuals matching the descriptions given by the complainant, as they were attempting to enter a vehicle, while in possession of the property alleged to have been stolen. Both individuals were detained without incident and later positively identified by Walmart loss prevention personnel as the alleged offenders in this case. The alleged stolen property was recovered and returned to the business.
Carzell Hunter, a 44 year-old Montgomery resident and Ronald M. Harris, a 25 year-old Montgomery resident, were both placed under arrest, with each being charged with one count of Theft of Property 4th Degree. Both individuals were transported to the Millbrook Police Department for processing and were later transported to the Elmore County Jail, where they remain under a $500.00 cash bond.
It never ceases to amaze me, yet it infuriates me, that people are bold enough to enter a business with the intent upon committing a theft, grab a shopping cart, thinking that they’ll just place the property in the cart and walk out of the business without paying, like it’s acceptable, with the thought process that there will be no repercussions, such as the alleged offenders did in this case. Considering the mode of transportation these two individuals were using, I have to wonder, had they not been apprehended, if their intent was to return for more property? Considering they were attempting to leave the business in a rented U-Haul truck when our officers apprehended them, one might believe that they had bigger plans.
I will keep repeating myself until people start believing my previous comments regarding the commission of retail thefts in this city, particularly at our local Walmart. Walmart, like many retail businesses, seeks to protect themselves from such occurrences, therefore they employ excellent loss prevention staff, who are very good at what they do. They utilize some of the best surveillance equipment that is available for purchase, making it difficult to commit these thefts undetected. Our officers stand at the ready for these calls for service, so if you decide to roll the dice and take your chances at committing a theft, I like your odds of finding out what’s being served at the Elmore County Jail for whatever their next scheduled meal is.
