Two Florida corrections officers are facing multiple grand theft charges after deputies accused them of stealing more than $3,000 in merchandise during a three-week run through Walmart stores.
Kaitlyn Thomas, 32, and Shaun Smith, 20, are accused of taking LEGO sets, Magic: The Gathering cards and other merchandise from Walmart locations in Callaway, Panama City and Lynn Haven.
The alleged thefts came to an end after investigators used a license plate reader system to track the pair’s white Hyundai Sonata after they left the Callaway store, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
A deputy soon spotted the vehicle on Highway 77. What investigators say they found next turned a traffic stop into a case involving thousands of dollars in merchandise and several Walmart locations.
Deputies Say the Theft Spree Lasted Three Weeks
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office said Thomas and Smith were Florida state correctional officers when investigators arrested them. The case accelerated on Aug. 17, when deputies responded to the Walmart in Callaway after a reported theft. Authorities learned that the suspects had left in a white Hyundai Sonata.
After the pair was detained, investigators say Thomas told them she and Smith had been traveling to Bay County for about three weeks and visiting Walmart locations in Callaway, Panama City and Lynn Haven.
According to investigators, Thomas said they had been stealing Magic: The Gathering trading cards and LEGO sets from the stores. Authorities ultimately connected more than $3,000 in merchandise to the suspected thefts.
A Flock Camera Helped Investigators Find Their Car
Deputies had a description of the white Hyundai Sonata after it left the Callaway Walmart. Investigators used Flock license plate recognition technology to help locate the vehicle.
A deputy then spotted the Sonata on Highway 77 near Highway 388 and conducted a traffic stop. Authorities said store surveillance footage confirmed Thomas and Smith’s involvement in the theft under investigation.
What initially began with a report from one Walmart soon expanded. Investigators determined that the merchandise and surveillance evidence potentially connected the pair to incidents at multiple stores around Bay County.
A Search of the Car Turned Up More Than $3,000 in Merchandise
After the stop, investigators obtained a search warrant for the Hyundai Sonata. Deputies said they found more than $3,000 worth of allegedly stolen property inside.
Investigators determined that not all of the merchandise recovered from the car had come from the Callaway Walmart, further supporting their examination of thefts at other locations.
The recovered property gave investigators physical evidence to compare with store surveillance footage and reports from Walmart locations in Callaway, Panama City and Lynn Haven.
Both Officers Face Multiple Grand Theft Charges
Thomas and Smith were arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand theft, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Bay County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Lynn Haven Police Department and Panama City Police Department as investigators examined the thefts across the different jurisdictions.
The investigation remains active, and local authorities said additional charges could be filed. The accusations against Thomas and Smith have not been proven in court.
How Retailers Can Respond When Theft Appears to Span Multiple Stores
A theft discovered at one location can be part of a broader pattern, particularly when the same people, vehicle or types of merchandise appear in incidents at other stores. Maintaining detailed records can make it easier to recognize those connections. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has identified surveillance systems, effective inventory controls, staff awareness and cooperation between retailers and police as tools for addressing retail theft.
When suspected theft occurs, retailers should preserve relevant surveillance footage rather than allowing it to be automatically overwritten. Transaction records, inventory information, photographs of missing products and details such as the time of the incident and descriptions of vehicles can also help investigators compare cases.
Employees should follow their company’s safety and loss-prevention procedures rather than placing themselves at risk to recover merchandise. When a suspect has already left, documenting what happened and promptly providing evidence to law enforcement can allow investigators to pursue the case without an unsafe confrontation.