This is Thelma Grant. On August 9th, 2023, officers were dispatched to a Target store in reference to a woman with 32 prior incidents of ticket switching who had entered the store >> [music] >> and was doing it again. Loss prevention had been watching her for 3 years. She works at a hospital. She was wearing scrubs. Watch what happens when [music] officers arrest her at the register and what she says when she realizes she might lose her job. >> Are you going to go straight to the office right now? So, we're going to go straight to the office. And Dylan, let me explain a little better. Uh, the known subject has valid She said 4100, I think. >> 4100? >> 4100? >> No. >> For the case. For the case. For the case. >> Oh. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Oh, and now? >> Uh, now I'm on the phone. I don't think he's going to try to push out. I think it's Uh >> I got it. >> He knows more about it than I do. >> I got it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. >> Hey, guys. >> What's up? Got a lady. She ticket switches stuff. She's She ticket switches like um She ticket switches using sock barcodes usually. A little bit. Um >> What was the face value? >> Like 2400. >> Oh, man. >> We have a name for her. I'm not sure if it's 100% accurate, but we have her as Thelma Grant. >> Thelma Grant? >> Yes. >> That's an old name. >> Yeah, she's an old lady. I don't feel bad for her though. She's She knows what she's doing. Like she's been doing this for a while. Like just to give you some insight. $2400 back. >> How many uh 32 incidences? >> Yeah, so she's been doing this for a while. See, usually what she does is she grabs like little sock barcodes that are like a dollar, a little bit less. So, put that on whatever else she's buying. >> And then she'll actually go through the checkout line? >> Mhm. >> But she'll scan the socks? >> Yeah, she scans the socks, like 50 times. Yeah. >> So, while she's scanning, can you pull up like what all those things are? Okay. >> She's been doing this for so long that we have all these different incidents on her. >> Yeah. >> She's been here a while already? >> Um she's been in here for I can't tell how much. She's been here for like 30 minutes. I'm expecting her to hit to the front soon. >> Is she a nurse? >> I have no idea. I know the last time she came in though, she was wearing scrubs. So, that's kind of how I picked up on her today. I was like, "Okay, same scrubs." She's She's been hitting us forever. Like I'm right since it started 2020. So, she's been doing it for 3 years now. I think she's doing the switching in there where she's changing the barcodes out. Cuz what she did is she selected like an abundance of those. >> But she just tape them on? >> Well, they're sticky, that's what it is. So, um those 50 cent cups and the 50 cent bowls like the little plastic ones there. >> Oh, yeah. >> She selected a lot of those, that's what I'm thinking. Cuz I've seen her do it before. What she's probably doing is taking the barcodes off of those and putting them putting them onto the apparel items that she selected and the other stuff. So, she can pay 50 cents for those. Oh, no, no, no. We'll get her once she pays at the POS and once she exits. We have to like Target makes us let them leave. That way it shows like there's no possible way they could have intended to properly pay. Like that's why they call it last point of sale. Like there's no way that she could have paid properly. I just need her to get out of the store at this point. And like I showed them, I've got 30 plus incidents of her switching barcodes. So, I know you guys technically could pull her for defacing the merchandise, but we don't want to do that cuz it's just Target won't let us do that. >> Mhm. >> But my boss did give us permission like if she for some reason like when she sees the car parked or whatever, she abandons it, we will we can pursue trespassing. >> All right, so >> Oh yeah, she's ticket switching, we're good. So see, that look at that's a big black bowl that she scanned, that's a small white little cup that she scanned, so we're good. Let's just wait till she passes out once she's stable in the back. Can you guys tell the difference? So you see that's a big black bowl and this is like a small white cup. And then you should see her doing her again. And the little paper bowls, yeah, so she's still doing the cups, so we're good. We just need her to leave now. Perfect. This is good. >> I wonder where she did with cups. >> She dumped them. She left them like Oh, there she goes. She left them where she dumped the other stuff. Hey, I'm sorry to bother. Um so, I have them all right here at the POS. She is ticket switching, she switched barcodes, she scanned everything in, but her card might decline. It looks like she's struggling to render payment. If that's the case, the police are saying they have enough to like charge her with shoplifting because she switched the barcodes, but what should we do? You see? We can? >> Yeah, totally can, right? As long as the police want to. I'm I'm willing to prosecute on that. >> Okay. Okay, okay. All right, thank you. All right, bye. Hey, [clears throat] so she's still at the POS and she's been at the POS for 20 minutes now trying to render payment and not she >> I remember the first time I got my baton, I went home and I played with it and I couldn't get it to close. I was like, "What's the >> So, we said she got If you guys want to pull her, we can go ahead and pull her. >> Let's do it. >> All right, thanks Mark. All right, bye. >> Go ahead. I'll I'll take your lead. Got it. >> Excuse me. >> Which one? Still has a balance of >> Hey, ma'am. Can you drop your phone for me? >> Uh-huh. >> Can you drop your phone for me? >> Yes. >> You're under arrest right now, okay? Place your hands behind your back. Place your hands behind your back. We'll tell you as soon as you're in cuffs. >> What I did? >> We'll tell you as soon as you're in cuffs. >> What did I do? >> What's the What's the reason? Just let me get some handcuffs on you and then um we'll bring you to back and we'll explain everything. >> Uh-huh. >> Yeah. Oops. Sorry. >> I do, sir? >> What I'll let you know. Just let me get these cuffs on you real quick. >> Okay. >> I don't want to mess up your watch. >> Uh-huh. What in the world did I do? >> We'll explain. Just give us a second. >> Would you like me to grab your cell phone for you? >> Yes. >> What did I do, man? >> We'll explain it in the office, okay? You want to move it over there? Did you want me to disconnect the call? >> Yes. What did I do? >> I'll take your purse, miss. >> Okay. >> So the loss prevention officer is going to explain everything to you. >> Yes. >> Um we're just going to sit down, have a conversation and he'll explain everything. >> Right. Cuz I didn't do I mean for them all to come up and just handcuff me like that in front of everyone and I didn't do anything. >> We'll explain everything back here. >> Why you all going to handcuff me >> Have a seat over here on the uh the uh bench for me. >> Yes. >> It's good. You can sit there or there, either way. >> Yes. I don't want to sit down. >> Have a seat for me. >> I don't want to sit down, sir. It just It hurt me. It hurt my arms. >> It's just switching switching the barcodes. >> Huh? >> Switching the barcodes of an item is a crime. >> I didn't switch no barcode. >> We have you on camera now. >> What did I do, sir? You didn't SEE ME SWITCHING NOTHING. I DIDN'T SWITCH no barcode in here. >> Ma'am. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Sir, show me, please. >> I have it. I have it right here. They've seen it. They've seen >> Sir, no. Uh-uh. You You need to show me. Show me what did I do? >> Okay. >> Show me what did I do? >> You switched the barcodes of the items that you rang up. >> Sir. Sir, I PROMISE YOU I DIDN'T SWITCH NO BARCODE. >> I We have it on tape. >> Sir, I didn't switch no barcode. >> What's your name? >> I I didn't switch no barcode. One thing I came here to do I first I came here I was going to change my pajamas but I didn't have I couldn't get into the chime. >> You said what? >> I came Yeah it's the chime thing. Yeah I came Yeah I came here for pajamas. Yes I I had I bought me some pajamas here today. Yeah but then when I got to the register she told me it was time for me to go ahead and put that in there. I don't have anything else. >> What I was looking for you got ID in here ma'am? >> No my ID and everything is in the car. >> All right what's your name ma'am? >> And and then for you to go you you're not supposed to just search my my items. >> Well you're arrested right now ma'am so >> Yes but what I'm saying is arrested for what? >> Shoplifting. >> Shoplifting? >> Please sit down. >> Sir show me proof that I shoplifted anything. >> We just told you. >> Sir I didn't I know I did not. No I did not. >> Okay have a seat for me. >> Well oh hell no uh-uh uh-uh The only thing I did I went and I bought what I had I I was trying to get my money off the chime the whole time. >> What's your name ma'am? >> I'm not giving that information unless y'all tell me some stuff. >> We did. >> No no y'all did not. The first thing y'all did was handcuff me. >> Ma'am I told you you're under arrest for shoplifting. >> How you under arrest? First of all sir look here. First of all I didn't leave out the store with anything and I didn't change no price I didn't change no prices on anything. The only thing I did was scan what I had. >> When you were scanning things they were it was coming up as a white plastic cup. >> Listen I scanned what I had. You're not going to sit up here and tell me that I shoplifted anything. >> Okay. >> I scanned the stuff that I had. >> Yeah. Ma'am something that if you wish to fight in court you can fight in court. >> Oh I'm definitely going to fight this in court. I'm definitely going to fight this in court now. >> What's your last name and social? >> Until y'all give me some information because this is not fair. >> Ms. Thomas, we observed you bringing up items on the camera and we saw >> Man, I bring up everything. No, those are mine cuz my bag is in the car. Uh-uh. >> We have you on camera selecting those on camera. >> Those are mine. >> I have you on camera. >> No. No. No, sir. First of all, you seen me get another size. That's what I did and if you see me if you seen where I put it back. >> Okay, I'll tell you what. We won't even prosecute you so this thing we'll just prosecute her for it. >> Because Yeah, because the only thing you had to do is look and see that I was getting another size. That's all. >> And they didn't have another size. >> Okay. Okay, but you still ticket switching merchandise today and that's what it >> No. >> Okay. And we have 30 >> And then And then you are not supposed to search my purse. This lady right here is supposed to search. >> No. >> If you would like me to search instead of him >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am because this is out of order right here what they're doing. This is very much out of order. >> So, you want me to finish the search? >> Uh-uh. Put that stuff back in my purse. Put everything back in my purse. Because I'm not I'm I'm very This is very uh-uh. Uh-uh. Sir, you can put my Those are my items. >> These? >> Yes, those are mine. You can put it right back in my purse. >> Those might be hers. >> Put them back in there. >> But so we're not even going to prosecute on this. We're just going to prosecute her for SWITCHING MERCHANDISE. >> DON'T PROSECUTE. I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING, SIR. SIR, I SWITCHED THE BARCODE. >> YES. >> FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN'T SWITCH ANY BARCODES OR ANYTHING AND I'M GOING TO SUE TARGET. OH, HECK, NO. UH-UH. NO. NO. NO, I'm going to I'm going to sue you all. I'm going to sue you all because this is not fair. This is not right. No. >> Okay. >> And then to have the police to come and handcuff me at the register around everybody? >> Okay. >> Oh, heck, no. Uh-uh. >> All right. >> DIDN'T EVEN DIDN'T EVEN BRING ME BACK HERE. DIDN'T EVEN BRING me back here. YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP THERE and handcuff me in front of everybody. >> Okay, ma'am. >> Oh, I'm definitely going to get me a lawyer. >> [snorts] >> I'm not talking to you because I didn't because you didn't do anything to me. You didn't you stood back. >> That's the reason why we're here. >> Listen, it doesn't matter whether he's the reason. I'm talking about what you all did. He didn't just ban me out the store. >> We're doing that, too. >> I know that, but he didn't let me go. >> That's up to them, but I don't think they are. >> That's that's all I ask. Sir. Please, sir. Please, sir. This is going to be on me and I'm going to lose my job. I work at the hospital in day surgery. Please. I please, sir. >> He's got to keep his job, too. >> I I understand it. But it's their job. Is there a call? Please, sir. I won't step back in here nowhere around and please, sir. I'll lose my job if this is on me. Please. It took me so long to get this job. Please, sir. I'm just begging you. Please. Just just please. I just can can I just pay for the stuff in you? Please, sir. Sir, what I didn't know I didn't in here. Sir, no you didn't I sir, I've never done Oh my god. I ALWAYS SHOP IN HERE. I LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. SIR, you have never caught me in no shoplifting or anything like that in here. Oh my god. I can't believe this. I know no you did not. Sir, what what how much is the items? Oh my I didn't Sir, I didn't even leave out the door. I didn't leave the I didn't leave out the door. I didn't leave out the door. I didn't pay for anything. Is that a misdemeanor felony? Sir, please please. I'm going to lose my job. Please, sir. Well, whose choice is it? >> choice. >> WELL, CAN YOU TALK TO CORPORATE, PLEASE? >> All right, I think I talked to You heard me talking earlier and they What did they say? >> To arrest her. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> I have never been in this store getting caught for no shoplifting or anything, sir. Please. >> Yes, ma'am. >> please just Sir, can I Can I Can I beg I beg you, please? I have nobody to get me out on bond. Not only that, not only having this charge on me. I think I got to work tomorrow, anything. >> Well, you didn't rob the store, but you were stealing product, which is money. >> seen and look here, I can see if if I was going out that door and y'all ran behind me and grabbed me or whatever, but you got me right there right in front of everyone. You bum rushed me, you did this and that and you could have called me in the >> We didn't treat you >> Sir, you should have did. Yes, you >> We weren't rough with you. >> Sir, sir, you know you >> We were polite. >> Yes, you know y'all was not. >> I treat everyone equally. No, you wasn't. >> I don't know you from Adam. >> BECAUSE MY MY MY granddaughter was on My granddaughter was on video and the way that you all came up and grabbed me by my arm and yanked it up like that in front of everybody and handcuffed me. You could have walked me in the back. >> No, ma'am. >> Yes, you could. >> you from Adam. So, I have to treat you just like I would treat anybody else. >> No, you don't. >> Fairly and impartially. >> No, no, no, you did not. No, you did not and I'm not being ar- I'm not being argumentative you. I'm just upset and I'm embarrassed. >> that. >> I am upset and I'm embarrassed, that's all. They They They can't do nothing worry about as long as I know they they banned me from here. >> Yes, ma'am, they did. And I'll go ahead and show you everybody that needed to sign off on it. So, there's your name, your signature, the property manager name and signature, and that is my name and my signature. >> Okay, that's fine. >> All right. >> And it was in the in the afternoon? >> Yes, ma'am, it is permanently. >> That's kind of harsh, isn't it? >> I didn't I didn't decide that. >> Sir, isn't that kind of harsh? >> What? >> Indefinite. >> It's not my choice. It's what is part of procedure. >> You got You got to take a picture of yourself. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mr. So, this is a copy of the arrest report. You're going to create a copy of this and then there's going to be a case report number on here that you can pull from our system. >> Yes, sir. Oh, thank you so much. >> You got it? >> Yes. >> Oh, let me unclip those for you real quick. >> These right here? >> Yeah, I'm going to just get them out your way. You look really nice with the purse. Do you want to help me with the seat belt? >> Velma Grant was charged with theft for the incident that occurred that day. Prior incidents could not be prosecuted without sufficient evidence or were no longer legally actionable. She was also issued a permanent ban from every Target location in the country. She had been switching barcodes at this store since 2020.