Three shoplifting incidents Friday at Wal-Mart

The Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2500 S. Main St., suffered three consecutive shoplifting incidents Friday, resulting in the arrest of a Richards, Mo., woman.

Fort Scott Police officers responded to the first theft at 1:12 p.m., then two others at 3:44 p.m. and 5:09 p.m. Friday. Wal-Mart personnel contacted police about the incidents.

The first incident happened when Wal-Mart staff confronted 25-year-old Malissa R. Harth inside the store about possible shoplifting, FSPD said.

According to the police report, store staff members said she became argumentative during the conversation. They called police, and officers arrested Harth for misdemeanor theft and disorderly conduct. She was released later that day from the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center on $1,250 bond.

Harth is accused of stealing make-up, a utility knife, paint brushes and paint scrapers, all totaling just over $20, according to the police report.

The second theft occurred a few hours later and involved a 19-year-old Fort Scott female who is alleged to have stolen $38 worth of make-up before Wal-Mart employees discovered the theft and called police.

Police did not arrest the woman, so her name wasn't released. However, police will turn the case over to Bourbon County Attorney Terri Johnson for possible issue of charges against the suspect.

The third theft happened when a man picked up an amplifier kit and took off on foot out of the store, police said. According to the police report, store employees chased the man, but he got away. The suspect was seen running from the store to a white pick-up truck parked in Woods Supermarket. He hasn't been caught.

The man dropped the amplifier kit, valued at $79, during the chase. Police recovered the kit.

Police said none of the alleged shoplifters were connected to each other.