Grand theft at Ponderay Walmart
EMILY BONSANT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 6 months AGO
I have deep North Idaho roots and graduated from Eastern Washington University with an English degree with a creative writing emphasis with a minor in film. I worked at at the Bonner County Daily Bee before coming to work at the Bonners Ferry Herald in August 2021. I enjoy writing for the paper that my great-grandfather read and covering the same small town community that is still alive today. I cover all things Badger sports, local politics and government, community news, business, outdoors and appear on the 7Bee podcast for the Herald's update. When I'm not working I can be found reading a good book and sipping tea, knitting or attempting to sign opera. | July 14, 2022 1:00 AM
BONNERS FERRY — A Kalispell woman is being charged with grand theft after she allegedly took more than 140 items totaling $1,390.91 from the Ponderay Walmart.
Grace A.L. Smith, 28, is accused of grand theft.
Smith was arrested by Bonners Ferry Police on June 5 after she allegedly tried to walk out of the Bonners Ferry Larson’s without paying for more than $500 worth of clothing.
Smith did not make it to the doors with the items before being ordered to leave the premises, which was about 30 minutes prior to her arrest on other charges, BFPD Officer Willie Cowell wrote in an affidavit.
According to Cowell, items from Walmart were found in Smith’s possession after her arrest. Cowell followed up with the Ponderay store’s loss prevention specialist, who showed him photos of Smith and an accomplice, the affidavit said.
The accomplice waited outside the store as Smith pushed a shopping cart through the store loading merchandise into two plastic totes, which she had removed from store inventory, according to court documents.
The specialist told BFPD that Smith never ran the cart of merchandise through a manned check-out.
On June 9, Cowell returned the Walmart merchandise from the totes. Store officials scanned each of the items to confirm it came from the store. The scan also indicated that no item had been paid for.
A pair of socks were found to belong to the Larson’s store. Officers are working to identify where the remaining items are from.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for July 15.
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