Walter David Hawthorne II

WARSAW — Walter David Hawthorne II, 41, 9783 E. Chicadee Drive, Cromwell,  has been charged with four counts of theft, each enhanced from class A misdemeanors to level 6 felonies. All four charges occurred at Wal-Mart, Warsaw between Feb. 18 to March 7.

He is being held on $11,000 surety/cash bond.

Wal-Mart officials reported to Warsaw City Police Officer Jeffrey Ticknor the merchandise stolen was valued at $256.24.

In several thefts, Hawthorne obtained clothing merchandise, walked through the checkout without paying and then walked to the service desk returning the merchandise in exchange for gift cards, totaling $100.11.

In another instance Hawthorne is seen taking an ink cartridge and clothing, leaves the store and goes to a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle is then seen entering the store with the items, going to the service desk for a refund. While he could only receive an exchange for the ink cartridge due to the original package being opened, he was given a $12.80 gift card for the clothing.

The surveillance camera also shows Hawthorne re-entering the store, selecting a child’s bicycle, valued at $74.87, and leaving without paying.

The final theft, March 7, is where Hawthrone takes two ink cartridges, walks past all checkouts, goes to the service desk and returns the items, valued at $81.26.

The other person allegedly involved in the thefts is responsible for $53.43 of the stolen merchandise.

The surveillance videos were compared to the driver’s licenses shown by Hawthorne and the other individual, recorded at the service desk when refunds were made.

Ticknor found Hawthorne was convicted of theft April 19, 2000, in Kosciusko County Circuit Court and has a pending theft case in Superior I Court.