ROCKLAND — A Waldoboro woman was charged with stealing a shopping cart full of toys from Walmart and then working with an accomplice to return the merchandise for cash at another store location.

Jessica Alexander, 39, of Waldoboro was arrested by Thomaston Police Officer Michael Blais and charged with felony theft and violating condition of release. Alexander has four prior convictions of theft dating from 2007-2012.

Alexander made her initial court appearance Jan. 4 in Knox County Unified Court.

According to court documents, a man went into the Augusta Walmart to return $369 worth of toys purchased at the Thomaston store. He had a receipt from the store and told the clerk he was returning the merchandise purchased earlier that day because the toys were for his daughter but she has been killed in a car accident that morning. The clerk alerted security because she thought “there was something strange about his story.”

At the time of this transaction, the clerk was able to get the man’s driver’s license number and the Thomaston Police Department was notified, according to the police affidavit filed by Officer Michael Blais.

The investigation continued when security contacted the Thomaston store and security video footage matching the date and time on the receipt was reviewed. It showed a female, later identified as Alexander, purchasing the toys at approximately the same time that morning. After she left the store, surveillance footage showed her unloading the merchandise in a car, and quickly returning inside the store with the receipt and empty shopping cart. Alexander then filled it with the same toys she just paid for, and exited the store while passing the cash registers without paying for the merchandise, said the court documents.

Walmart security team classifies this type of retail theft as “receipt shopping.”

Alexander was also identified in surveillance video footage with the male at the Augusta Walmart. The male accomplice has not yet been charged according to court documents.  

Judge Susan Sparaco set Alexander’s bail at $1,000 and as part of her bail conditions she is not to enter any Walmart stores in Maine.

Alexander’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 11.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com