By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury woman was arrested after authorities say she tried to return items worth $1,100 to Kohl’s Department Store. The problem, police say, is that Melissa Shaver hadn’t bought the items in the first place.
Shaver, 38, of 420 St. Luke’s Church Road, is charged with obtaining property by false pretenses and larceny from a merchant for allegedly removing inventory control tags.
According to police reports, a Salisbury Police officer was called to Kohl’s on Jan. 3 about a larceny in progress.
A loss prevention officer and the police officer watched on a security camera as a woman walked through the store, taking tags off items.
Salisbury Police Chief Mark Wilhelm said the loss prevention officer told the officer store employees had seen the woman on tape before, making returns.
The officer stopped the woman just outside the store. A search of her purse revealed a handwritten list, two razor knives and other blades that were used to cut off the anti-theft devices, police said.
Police say Shaver told them she’d been programmed by her ex-husband to take things. Shaver said she was just doing what he told her to do.
She had been stealing from the store for several weeks, police said, and had already gotten refunds for some of the stolen items.
Items taken included three navigation systems, bed sheets, an electric razor and hair straightener.
Shaver was released from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.