The Dalton Police Department is on the lookout for a duo who boldly walked out of a local Walmart on New Year's Eve with over $1,500 in stolen goods. The early morning heist, which took place at the commerce giant's Shugart Road location, was captured on camera, prompting law enforcement to seek assistance from the public. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the suspects managed to spend approximately 40 minutes in store, brazenly gathering a variety of objects, including robotic vacuums and jewelry.
Investigators detailed how one of the men seemingly tried to deceive a Walmart employee by claiming the items were meant to be returned. As this ruse unfolded, "one suspect stopped to talk to the employee while the other kept moving with their cart, telling her that they had brought the items in to return them but that nobody was at the customer service desk so they were leaving," police said, as reported by WSB-TV. This distraction allowed them to swiftly exit the premises, dodging payment and leaving the employee without answers.
The merchandise purloined, valued at a near $1,527, was varied—a telltale sign of haphazard intent rather than need or desperation. Among the stolen items were five robotic home vacuums, a few backpacks, a tent, knives, and two necklaces, a veritable smorgasbord of Walmart's offerings. Police were able to provide a clear description of the suspects based on surveillance footage: the first with cropped hair, dressed in a white hoodie and purple pajama-style pants, and his accomplice in denim and a blue and beige flannel wool-lined jacket.
The Dalton Police Department has turned to the community for aid, sharing a photo taken from the security cameras in hopes someone will recognize the crafty perpetrators. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Clinton Travis at 706-278-9085, extension 9-231," relayed the authorities. As the investigation continues to try and unravel the identities of these two men, the incident serves as another stark reminder of the battles retailers regularly face to protect their goods from those looking to unjustly claim them.
