Scores of teens face charges for ripping off Wal-Mart

March 4, 1998
Web posted at: 7:43 p.m. EST (0043 GMT)

ALPHARETTA, Georgia (CNN) -- As many as 100 teenagers, many from affluent communities, are facing felony charges -- meaning years in prison if convicted -- for allegedly stealing as much as $100,000 in merchandise from a Wal-Mart store.

Fulton County Police Chief Donald Cook said the teens are facing multiple felony charges that could land them in prison for years, if tried and convicted.

The scheme involved five teen-age cashiers who worked at the store in the northern part of the county, and scores of students from two area high schools.

"When the teen-agers went through the line, they'd have a Coke, some gum and maybe a Nintendo 64. The cashier would scan the Coke and the gum, but not the Nintendo," Cook explained. The cashiers got a kickback for their effort.

Cook said some of the merchandise was returned for cash at other stores in the area.

"Shoplifting anything over $100 dollars is a felony, and we're talking about a lot more money than that," said Cook. "Plus, anyone over 17 years of age will be tried as an adult. So their lives will never be the same. A felony conviction is with you for life."

"Stealing is wrong and we, at Wal-Mart, will not tolerate it," said Les Copeland, director of public relations for Wal-Mart Corp. ""We have the intent to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

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