WV Man Banned From Walmart® Comes Back... For This?

Walmart Store, 2023. Photo by Wikideas1 under CC0 1.0.

It was a quiet Saturday evening in Fayetteville, West Virginia, when a man pushed a shopping cart into Walmart^® and headed straight for the playing cards aisle. Nothing about the scene stood out - until the checkout. What happened next had police raising eyebrows and Walmart reviewing security footage.

The Alleged Theft

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, Juwuan Watts walked into the local Walmart on April 26. Officers say he took the cart from the parking lot and entered through the general merchandise side - normal behavior.

Except Watts had already previously been banned from the premises.

Officials say Watts made a beeline for the playing cards aisle and began loading merchandise into his cart. After grabbing two gift bags from the celebration section, he allegedly stuffed the cards inside and strolled to the self-checkout. Without scanning a single item, police say he walked out the front door with nearly $300 worth of goods.

A Bold Exit

Authorities were alerted by a Walmart Asset Protection Associate, who reported the suspected theft around 8:30 p.m. Just minutes earlier, Watts had allegedly wheeled his cart out of the store and loaded the merchandise into a black Nissan Rogue parked outside.

Surveillance footage reportedly confirmed the incident. But more pressing for police is the fact that Watts had previously been issued a trespass notice from that very store - a legal order that prohibits him from entering the premises.

By walking into the store that night, Watts allegedly violated that court-ordered ban, potentially compounding the legal consequences he may now face.

Not an Isolated Case

Walmart locations across the U.S. have been dealing with increasingly bold tactics by alleged shoplifters. From stolen trash cans filled with electronics to “skip-scanning” expensive items, the rise of self-checkout has created new opportunities - and headaches - for retailers, according to the U.S. Sun.

Earlier this year, a Florida school principal was charged with petit theft for trying to leave Walmart with groceries she hadn’t paid for, using a similar cover-up method.

Other incidents have involved suspects using empty mailboxes, large bins, and now, apparently, festive gift bags.

What Happens Next?

As of time of writing, Watts has not been officially charged or convicted in this specific case, and the investigation remains ongoing. Police have not released additional information regarding his current whereabouts or whether an arrest has been made.

Mug shot of Juwuan Watts. Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Police Department.

If charges are filed, the fact that he was already barred from the store could lead to additional legal ramifications. Entering a property after being trespassed is a separate criminal offense, one that could elevate any potential charges beyond simple shoplifting.

A Growing Concern

Thefts like these are more than just one-off incidents. They’re part of a growing trend that’s forcing major retailers to reevaluate their approach to loss prevention. From facial recognition systems to eliminating self-checkout lanes altogether, businesses are experimenting with new tactics to fight back against what they see as a rise in “creative” theft.

Whether or not Watts becomes a cautionary tale or one of many faces in an evolving retail challenge is something only time - and the courts - will tell.

References: THEFT BUST Smirking Walmart shopper banned from store after using sick ‘gift bag’ trick at self-checkout | Man Caught Shoplifting Nearly $300 in Playing Cards from Fayetteville Walmart