A Knoxville, Tennessee, man was arrested Saturday and has been accused of stealing televisions from a Walmart and then selling them in the store's parking lot.
Donald Kirkland was arrested around 9 p.m. after police found him with shoplifted property from the Chapman Highway Walmart, according to a WVLT Knoxville report.
"Walmart theft statistics show that the retailer is one of the worst-affected brands in the U.S., losing approximately $3 billion to theft per year," a Fortunly 2022 report said.
"Walmart has introduced a raft of new measures to try to deter thieves and reduce losses, including added surveillance, staff training, AI technology and restrictions for people who have a record of shoplifting."
When confronted, Kirkland tried to flee from officers, who were eventually able to take him into custody.
Kirkland later confessed that he had stolen three TVs, a karaoke machine and some camping equipment from the Walmart.
He also admitted to selling them in the parking lot, with a Walmart manager telling officers he saw Kirkland loading one of the TVs in a cart he was using in the store.
Kirkland has been charged with theft of merchandise, according to the WLTV report.
Newsweek has contacted the Knoxville Police Department for comment.
On August 8, in Washington, police officers were able to catch another Walmart thief, who was accused of stealing shoes.
After an alert, a Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) deputy found 27-year-old Jacob C. Lockard wearing a pair of sneakers he hadn't paid for at a Walmart on 5025 E. Sprague at about 9:10 a.m. Following a short chase, Lockard was apprehended and taken into custody.
The Washington Retail Association said in 2021 that theft in the state had reached around $1 billion a year, while theft had cost businesses across the country an estimated $45 billion.
In an August 9, Facebook post, an SCSO spokesman said: "Lockard was observed walking back and forth between aisles wearing the new shoes, which still had the tag on them.
"The store employee showed the Deputy a pair of worn shoes placed on the rack where Lockard was standing.
"The Deputy contacted Lockard and explained the store needed the shoes returned and Lockard would be trespassed from the store. Suddenly, Lockard ran from the store, past all points of sale, still wearing the shoes."
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About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
