An employee of Walmart Supercenter is suspected of having stolen $9,500 worth of goods from the store over a period of several months.
On Monday, a Walmart loss prevention officer contacted Sgt. Pete Dixon, criminal investigator for the Arkadelphia Police Department, regarding two employees stealing merchandise from the store. The loss prevention officer said he had identified the employees after an anonymous employee contacted him and advised that Travis Michael Scott, a sporting goods clerk, had been stealing merchandise. He said he also received a phone call from GameStop on W.P. Malone Drive, where an employee advised that Scott had been at the business to sell “numerous” video games, including brand new releases.
The loss prevention officer began an internal investigation which led to interviewing suspects and recording video surveillance footage. He spoke with Scott and another suspect, Steven Ray Vanwinkle, 20, of Benton, about the incidents.
According to the report, Vanwinkle confessed and provided a signed statement to the theft of two video games valued at $59 each. The thefts occurred on one occasion.
Scott also confessed and provided a signed statement to the theft of more than $9,500 worth of merchandise over the course of seven months. He admitted to stealing video games, cell phones, iPhones, ammunition, sporting goods, clothing, pharmacy items, video game accessories, phone accessories, DVDs and a printer.
The loss prevention officer was able to locate video surveillance footage of Scott completing a theft on one occasion. The video, according to the report, shows him working at the sporting goods counter, where he is alone in that part of the store. He is reportedly seen retrieving items from behind the counter — video games and/or DVDs — and placing each item on the counter to disarm the alarm devices in the packaging, and then bagging each item in small Walmart bags. Each of those bags were placed into a single, larger bag, and Scott is later seen leaving the store without paying for the items.
According to the report, Vanwinkle is expected to face misdemeanor charges and Scott is expected to face felony charges.
Formal charges will later be determined by County Prosecutor Blake Batson.