A repeat shoplifter and her companion were arrested last week after allegedly stealing items from Belk at La Plaza Grande in The Villages.
At approximately 6:50 p.m. Thursday, 59-year-old Tammy Sue Patterson of Lady Lake and 63-year-old Tina Ann Russell entered Belk, according to a Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. Patterson had been warned not to return to the store on Aug. 21, 2014,.
Patterson and Russell were both observed by the store’s loss prevention officer on closed circuit television video surveillance. Patterson was seen concealing jewelry in her purse, and Russell was seen concealing jewelry upon her person. Both women then passed all points of sale and exited the store without paying for the items. Patterson activated the store alarm as she exited. They then both walked to a teal Honda where the loss prevention officer observed Patterson remove a bag from her purse and place it on top of the rear passenger side tire, while Russell emptied the items from inside of her shorts into the vehicle.
Lady Lake police responded to the scene and inspected items inside Patterson’s coin bag from her purse, which turned up numerous small white, oval shaped pills that had “A333” imprinted on them. Patterson spontaneously told deputies she had a prescription for the pills, which were later identified to be acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride. She did not provide a prescription for the pills. A search of Patterson’s bag revealed two pairs of earrings that were stolen from Belk. An officer looked inside the vehicle and found a silver colored necklace that Russell had stolen from Belk. The necklace was valued at $41.73.
Patterson was placed under arrest on controlled substance possession, trespassing and retail theft charges. Russell was placed under arrest on a charge of retail theft. Both women were transported to Lake County Jail. An inventory search of Patterson’s purse at the jail led to the discovery of a wallet that contained a Fentanyl patch. Patterson spontaneously stated she had a prescription for it, but could not provide one. Patterson served jail time last year for drug possession.
Bond was set at $7,000 for Patterson and $500 for Russell.
