Autumn Griepentrog

WARSAW — Autumn Griepentrog, a Milford School reading interventionist, has been charged with theft, a class A misdemeanor, following a theft of items at Walmart, Warsaw.

Griepentrog, 32, 335 Gilliam Drive South, Warsaw, whose Facebook page states she is a reading interventionist/Title 1 Coordinator and librarian, was arrested on June 10 after charges were filed in Kosciusko Superior Court II. She was held on $600 cash bond.

Griepentrog reportedly stole $147.64 in items from the store. The items included food, children’s clothing and miscellaneous children’s merchandise.

Warsaw Police were called to Walmart on May 20 to meet with a Walmart Loss Prevention official who had the suspect, Griepentrog, in her office. The Walmart official stated she witnessed Griepentrog scanning items at the self-checkout registers and observed her scan an item then placing multiple items into a grocery bag without paying for the majority of the merchandise. After Griepentrog was finished scanning the items and placing all items into a shopping cart, the loss prevention official followed her out of the store, past all points of sale and confronted her. Griepentrog willingly returned to the store’s office and admitted to scanning some items but not others. Griepentrog told the store official she made a mistake and that it was the first time she had stolen.

Griepentrog, who voluntarily spoke with police stated she was aware of placing unpaid merchandise into her cart. She stated she made a mistake and had gotten into a hurry. She stated she was not out of money and did not have an excuse for not paying for the items. She also told police it was the first time she had ever stolen and knew it was a bad decision.

Police were told that the items she had stolen were going to be given to her children and the children in her class. Additionally police were told by Griepentrog she was a school teacher.

Information regarding the incident was sent to the prosecutor’s office for formal charges and a warrant issued, which Griepentrog was aware would happen.