BREWER, Maine — A 27-year-old Trescott woman who was on probation for theft is returning to jail after a shoplifting spree, police said Thursday.
Megan Yates reportedly was caught shoplifting at the Brewer Walmart last week.
She initially was cooperative after store employees caught her trying to leave the store without paying for items just before noon Wednesday, May 23, but rather than wait for police officers to arrive, she left the store.
“She was detained after trying to exit with $110 in merchandise, but refused to stick around,” said Brewer police Capt. Jason Moffitt. “She fled in a vehicle.”
Witnesses and an off-duty Brewer firefighter helped police track Yates to Holden and back to Brewer, where she finally was stopped by Sgt. Arden Jones at the entrance to Lowe’s on Arista Drive.
“That’s the first arrest I’ve made in years,” said Moffitt, who usually fills a command role at the station. “We were just so busy that day, I had to grab a car and roll out to answer the call.”
Lt. Chris Martin also helped with tracking Yates down.
“We searched her car and found one of the stolen items,” said Moffitt. “We also found Percocet, which she didn’t have a prescription for, as well as marijuana paraphernalia.”
Yates also was driving with a revoked driver’s license, police said.
“That made it a felony theft due to her prior history, and her probation officer revoked her probation on the sentence for theft,” Moffitt said.
Yates, who has been incarcerated at Penobscot County Jail for the last nine days, was charged with theft by unauthorized taking, operating after habitual offender revocation and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs.
Such an upstanding woman, I’m sure this has all been a big mistake. NOT.
Let’s give her another harsh sentence of NINE DAYS in jail. She really learned her lesson. Thanks liberal judges
So it seems Ms Yates hasn’t learned from the first time she decided to steal from Walmart… and I don’t think she ever will.