Lincoln Crime Stoppers is asking for help identifying suspects in two separate Walmart cases that happened on the same day, including one report where an employee said a stranger talked him out of $500 in a parking lot.
10/11 NOW reported that both cases happened on May 3 at different Walmart stores in Lincoln, Nebraska.
One case involved a group accused of hiding merchandise in a tote at self-checkout. The other involved a man accused of taking money from a Walmart employee after telling him a “sad story,” according to police.
Police have not announced arrests in either case. Crime Stoppers is asking anyone who recognizes the suspects or vehicles to submit a tip through the P3 app, by phone, or online.
Police Say A Walmart Employee Was Scammed Out Of $500
In the second case, the employee told police he had just gotten off work at the Walmart on Jamie Lane around 8 p.m. when a man approached him in the parking lot, according to KLIN.
LPD’s Becky Keller told KLIN that the man was in a blue Nissan Rogue and gave the employee a sob story before asking for $500. The man allegedly said he would pay the money back the next day.
Police said he never returned to repay the money.
The employee also told police that a friend had been approached at a different Walmart by the same man asking for money. The friend thought the situation was suspicious and took clear photos of the man, according to police.
The Other Case Involved A Tote At Self-Checkout
The first case happened at the Walmart on Andermatt Drive around 8 p.m. on May 3. Police said three women and one man were seen walking through the store, placing items into a tote in their cart.
According to 10/11 NOW, the group allegedly paid for only some items at self-checkout before leaving with the rest.
Police described one woman as having a large floral tattoo on her neck. Another woman wore her hair in a double-bun style and had a large dark tattoo on the right side of her neck, along with what appeared to be a cursive word on the back of her neck.
The group was also accompanied by a man wearing a camo hoodie and a Black woman with long, curly blonde hair, according to the report. Police said the four left in a white Chevrolet Malibu.
Crime Stoppers Is Asking For Tips
Police are looking for a man in his 30s with a short beard in connection with the Jamie Lane Walmart case, according to 10/11 NOW.
KLIN reported that the man was driving a blue Nissan Rogue. Police also released images connected to the Andermatt Drive Walmart case and the Jamie Lane Walmart case.
Anyone with information can submit a tip anonymously through Lincoln Crime Stoppers by calling 402-475-3600, using the P3 app, or leaving a tip online at LincolnCrimeStoppers.com.
Parking-Lot Requests For Cash Should Be Handled Carefully
A stranger asking for money in a store parking lot may be in real need, but shoppers and employees should avoid handing over cash based only on a story and a promise to repay.
Anyone who wants to help can offer to call roadside assistance, a family member, a shelter, police non-emergency services, or a verified charity instead of giving money directly.
Workers leaving a shift should be especially careful if they are approached alone near a vehicle. If a request feels suspicious, they should go back inside, alert a manager or security employee, and avoid continuing the conversation in the parking lot.
Photos, license-plate details, vehicle descriptions, receipts, messages, and the time and location of the encounter can help police if the same person approaches multiple people.