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Last updated on Thursday, May 1, 2014
(BLOOMFIELD) - 20-year-old Harleigh R. Baker of Martinsville is accused of attempting to steal items from the Linton Walmart while armed with a handgun.
The incident happened last December and a warrant was issued for her arrest in January. She was finally arrested last week.
According to police, a Walmart staff member noticed Baker acting suspiciously and found several empty packages of the electronics department. They then noticed a man covering up electronics in his shopping cart. When he was confronted he fled through an emergency exit.
Store officials escorted Baker out of the store and contacted police. Employees saw two suspects leave the area on foot and then a vehicle attempt to pick them up.
Officers located the vehicle and the woman driver was wanted on a warrant out of Morgan County. They also discovered a handgun on the floorboard of the driver's seat. The driver told police Baker owned the gun and had it on her person earlier. Baker did not have a permit for the 9mm handgun. Officers also found ammunition for the weapon.
According to the driver, Baker and the man had picked her up in Martinsville and went to the Bloomington WalMart, where Baker and the man entered the store and stole several items. They all then drove to the Linton store for the purpose to steal more items.
The driver told police Baker and the man did the crimes while she stayed in the car.
While speaking with the driver, they noticed she had a two-way radio and someone was attempting to contact her. While the two were in the store the man had contacted the driver via radio, saying she needed to leave. Then she was notified to pick Baker up at a different location.
The driver also told police all three had been using meth that day.
Video surveillance showed the man getting behind the electronics department counters, moving shelving and display items to gain access to locked cases, and removing items from those areas. Walmart employees reported that a large number of items including electronics were loaded into Baker's and the man's carts, with a total value of $2,842.34.
Officers had several exchanges with the man over the two-way radio, but that he refused to return to the store to speak with them.
Baker faces preliminary charges of felony theft and carrying a misdemeanor charge of carrying a handgun without a permit.
The case is still under investigation.
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