Alleged Shoplifters Create Blast to Escape, Injure Four in Georgia Wal-Mart

FNC ^ | 01.15.07 | CAWats

[CAWats]

STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia — Four men evading arrest for shoplifting at a neighborhood Wal-Mart triggered a small blast in the store using swimming pool chemicals in an incident that left four others hospitalized, authorities said.

Authorities said one of the men was seen by a store employee placing a toy inside his pants. As the employee went for help, the men headed to the section where the pool chemicals were stocked and mixed a chlorine-based chemical with another item, said Lt. Jason Bolton of the Henry County Police. The chemical reaction created a small explosion and filled the store with white smoke.

"They made their escape in the chaos that ensued," Bolton told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a Monday story. "It's just hard to believe they did something like this to shoplift something as insignificant as a toy."

[coloradan]

I don't want to hold it... don't know where it's been!

[Paleo Conservative]

What would have been a slap on the wrist now may bring a long prison term.

Possibly in federal prison.

[ishabibble]

Four men were shoplifting toys in a Wal-Mart? I dunno, something is not right here. Pretty quick thinking with the "small blast" too.
Another poster was kind enough to put up a related Wal-Mart bomb threat news item.

There is an Indian Muslim in federal custody for enrolling in a RI truck driving school, and did not want to learn to back up. Just wanted a hazmat license. This happened only ONE MONTH AGO.

As yet another FReeper said, "Not with a bang, not with a whimper, but with a drip...drip...drip". Time to pay attention now. The election was really their victory, and they think that we are ripe for attack, again.

[Navy Patriot]

Ya see!... Ya see!, the ACLU was right, the Patriot act and the WOT agencies were all created just to deny rights to disadvantaged Walmart shop(lift)ers.

[proudofthesouth]

Brake fluid and chlorine tablets? Sounds like a terrific job for the Mythbusters!

[txroadkill]

They're like the McGuyvers of shoplifters.

Check this out:

 

This is from one of my last apprehensions in Dallas. I watched a 14 year old boy go to the tool isle, get a screw driver and then go to the toy department and unscrew the locked display case of "PokieMan" cards and then grab a handful and conceal them in his pants. Then he went to the Pharmacy, conceal a bunch of condoms and then went back to Toys where he concealed model parts.

I apprehended him after he exited the store, took him to my monitor room and started the paper work with my back to him. I finally turned around to so I could see his eye color for my report when I noticed him trying to get something out of his back pocket. I assumed it was more merchandise that I hadn't seen him get so I stood him up to take it from him. Imagine my surprise when I pulled a fully loaded .380 with slot jacketed hollow tips (one in the chamber) out of his back pocket. (see the center of the picture) God was watching me that day because he told the cop he was going to shoot me and run.

[highbottom]

If your employer does not allow you to frisk the aprehended suspects, then it's time to seek another means of employment. You will not get this lucky twice.

[NonValueAdded]

MacGuyver? Steven Segal in Under Siege? Jack Bauer?

[PAR35]

Possibly in federal prison.

If they are smart,they will plead to federal charges. Some of the Georgia facilites can be somewhat unpleasant.

[Paleo Conservative]

If they are smart,they will plead to federal charges. Some of the Georgia facilites can be somewhat unpleasant.

[1rudeboy]

No, you are not on a ping list. I just thought I'd direct your attention to comment #6, if you want a good laugh this morning.

[livius]

Incredible! Pay for the altar flowers next Sunday! You were really fortunate.

I tend to think of shoplifters as just sort of snatching something that appeals to them, or maybe going for a few small things (teenage girls stealing makeup, for example), but this kid sounds very systematic and I doubt it was the first time he was out there doing it. Of course, he probably won't get much punishment from the justice system, but it sure sounds as if shoplifting has moved up a whole notch on the seriousness scale.

Even so, the scenario with the "4 men" mixing pool chemicals to cause an explosion after stealing a "toy" is truly bizarre and it seems as if there must have been something else going on, some other motive than the theft of the toy. Maybe they were just trying out the explosion tactic to see how it worked as a diversion? I hope WalMart plans to secure these chemicals a little better.

[txroadkill]

I tend to think of shoplifters as just sort of snatching something that appeals to them

You would be surprised, I have testified in 4 different murder trials as a Wal-Mart LP. One of the jokes we had was that no matter what the crime, there is always a Wal-Mart connection, where do you think they get the Rubber-Maid tote boxes to stuff the bodies in???

[GSWarrior]

What kind of "toy" was this?

Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots?

[livius]

Egads! Somehow, those boxes are never going to look quite the same to me again...