OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla.,None — Deputies say four women swindled Walmart out of thousands, and they even brought a toddler along.
MUG SHOTS: 4 Women Arrested In Walmart Theft Ring
Osceola County deputies say the women used Walmart gift cards to steal from the stores, but employees caught onto their alleged scam and they were arrested Tuesday night.
Deputies think the women did it in Orange County, too. That's just one of the possibilities investigators at the Osceola County Sheriff's Office are looking into based on previous charges and the many Walmart receipts and gift cards the women were reportedly carrying.
The women didn't have any receipts for the $600 in merchandise they returned to the Poinciana Walmart off Cypress Parkway on Tuesday night. They took gift cards in lieu of cash. Investigators say the women used them to buy VISA gift cards and then started shopping and shoplifting.
"Surveillance video showed them stealing merchandise and they were exchanging the gift card," said Twis Lizasuain, Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
The women are accused of taking baby clothes, accessories and grocery items and placing them into empty Walmart bags. One of suspects is an expectant mom who had a 3-year-old in tow. When the group was confronted, they quickly loaded up in their mini-van and left.
Deputies located the minivan. Inside, they found $1,400 in merchandise for which the women had no receipts. There were 14 $100 Walmart gift cards and various receipts from other Central Florida Walmarts.
Deputies charged the four women with grand theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Charges are still pending against the expectant mom.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said it has already received calls from other jurisdictions hoping to compare notes about the four women arrested.
WFTV
