A retail theft call at the Mulberry Walmart on Sunday evening, August 31, took an unexpected turn when a suspect’s lies unraveled, leading to additional charges.
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the store after an employee reported a woman attempting to leave with more than $500 worth of unpaid merchandise. The would-be thief had a cart filled with a bizarre mix of items, including clothing, lotions, strip steak, and oxtail.
When confronted, the woman gave the name “Stephanie.” However, the deputy’s investigation revealed her true identity as 38-year-old Kimberly Renee Poe of Lakeland.
The situation worsened for Poe after she was arrested. A search of her revealed she had concealed additional stolen goods: two more bottles of lotion and a second tray of oxtail, bringing the total value of the stolen items to $561.18.
Poe, who has a prior theft conviction from 2018, was transported to the Polk County Jail. She faces charges of retail theft and providing false identification to a law enforcement officer.