Texts tell tale of theft

HAYDEN - Celeste Vanmeter was inside the Walmart store in Hayden on Friday afternoon receiving instructive text messages from her husband, Russell.

But the messages on her phone weren't helpful hints on what the Blanchard woman should get her husband for Christmas - they were instructions on how to leave the store with more than $140 in stolen merchandise.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office was notified of the theft by a loss prevention agent at the store where they were holding Celeste, 44, after witnessing her attempt to leave the store with a cart containing two gallons of paint, two packages of light bulbs, a small heater and an XM stereo for a vehicle. According to the deputy's report, the loss prevention agent believed Russell, 41, had left the store prior to Celeste with another cart-full of items.

According to the report, the deputy asked Celeste if there was any evidence of communication between she and her husband showing they had planned the theft in advance, which would elevate the charges to burglary.

Celeste told the deputy that there was none and gave him permission to check her cellphone. The deputy was reading her text messages with Russell when he noticed the following conversation:

"I'm at Walmart. Parked at the end of outdoor living in row nine," Celeste wrote in the text. "I can't find a place to do this."

In his response, Russell wrote that Celeste should wait for "a bunch of people" to leave the store and merge with them.

"If it don't feel right leave the basket and walk out," Russell wrote.

While Celeste was being questioned by the deputy, Russell was leaving the parking lot in the couple's vehicle. He was apprehended by a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office sergeant shortly after.

According to the report, the sergeant noticed several new-looking items in the back of the car. After reviewing store surveillance footage, it was determined that Russell placed a turkey fryer, heater, and other items in a basket at the store and left the store without paying. The items were worth $242.91.

The couple was arrested and initially both were charged with petit theft and burglary. However, when the deputy went back to the jail to interview Celeste for a second time, she told him additional information and her burglary charge was dropped.

"As soon as they entered the store, she observed Russell put the turkey fryer in the basket. They then placed the heater and other items inside the cart," the deputy wrote. "At one point, Russell told Celeste to get another cart. Celeste stated she immediately knew that Russell was planning on leaving the store with the items, and wanted her to take additional items."

The report adds that it was after Russell left that Celeste received instruction from Russell on how to leave the store without being caught.