Virginia man allegedly tried to openly shoplift from Walmart throughout vacation ‘Store with a Cop’ occasion

If solely this real-life Grinch’s mind might develop three sizes.

A Virginia man was arrested after allegedly attempting to steal greater than $1,000 price of things from a Walmart — proper in entrance of dozens of cops who had been on the retailer for a vacation occasion.

A Chesterfield County Walmart was internet hosting its annual “Store with a Cop” occasion the place native police partnered with impoverished kids to assist them select presents for the vacations on Sunday when the would-be bandit struck.

Almost 50 law enforcement officials and sheriff’s deputies had been throughout the shop on the time of the tried theft, Chesterfield County Police Lt. James Lamb advised CBS 6.

However the overwhelming presence of legislation enforcement didn’t deter 32-year-old Hector Velazquez Maldonado from attempting to make off with practically $1,400 of merchandise, in line with police.

Safety footage confirmed Maldonado attempting to cover bulks of things on his particular person as he tried to depart the shop, in line with police.

The officers had been notified of a shoplifting in course of on the very retailer they had been all stationed at and started scouring the ground for the suspect who they shortly discovered.

“As we approached from completely different instructions, he tried to flee out the again of the shop the place he was apprehended. I feel he was surprised,” Lamb advised CBS6.

Officers had been dumbfounded that Maldonado had tried to commit the crime even with the clear police presence throughout the realm.

“We had 30-40 marked patrol automobiles within the parking zone. After we discovered his automobile, it was dealing with the place our automobiles had been parked, so he would have needed to see them. It appears it simply didn’t matter to him,” Lamb advised the station.

Maldonado is a repeat shoplifting offender and had an lively warrant out for his arrest for a failure to seem in courtroom together with a number of open larceny instances in Chesterfield County, officers stated.

On high of his open instances, he’s now dealing with a felony cost of grand larceny for his squandered vacation heist, CBS6 reported.