Staff Report

WARSAW — A Warsaw man faces charges in two cases, both related to alleged thefts at local stores.

In the first case, Trenton F. Hairrell, 27, 520 Gilliam Ave., Warsaw, is charged with making a false sales document, a level 6 felony; theft, a level 6 document; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and theft with a prior conviction, a level 6 felony.

Trenton Hairrell

In the second case, Hairrell is charged with making a false sales document, a level 6 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and theft with a prior conviction, a level 6 felony.

According to the affidavits of probable cause, on May 10, a loss protection employee for Meijer reported a series of thefts committed by a man. She told Warsaw Police she was made aware of a possible theft on May 3 when multiple UPC labels were found affixed to incorrect merchandise. 

A review of surveillance footage for multiple incidents from April 6 through May 3 found that a man stole items from Meijer by failing to scan items or by switching UPC labels for cheaper items to more expensive merchandise and then scanning those items.

This man was identified as the lone suspect in 12 incidents of theft at Meijer during this time frame. The total value of items stolen was estimated to be $4,053.08.

A Warsaw Police officer reviewed the surveillance footage and confirmed the theft report. Photographs of the man were placed on the Warsaw Police Department Facebook page for assistance in identifying the suspect.

Responses were received that identified the suspect as Hairrell. Photographs of Hairrell were obtained from other sources and compared to the video images of the man, and Hairrell was positively identified as the suspect.

In the second case, Warsaw Police spoke with a loss prevention employee at Walmart on May 10 regarding a theft that occurred May 4.

Surveillance footage showed a man arriving at Walmart, walking through the store and selecting multiple items of merchandise. While selecting the items, the man can be seen removing UPC labels from plastic tumblers. He is also seen emptying a box of diapers and hiding the diapers behind food products. He then conceals multiple items of merchandise into the empty diaper box.

At the self-checkout register, he scans a storage box, but it rings up as a plastic tumbler. He scans some items in his cart but fails to scan other items. He then passed all points of sale without trying to make a proper purchase of the improperly scanned items.

Photos of the suspect were placed on the Warsaw Police Department’s Facebook page for assistance in identifying the subject. Several tips were received identifying the suspect as Hairrell. 

As in the other theft case, photographs of Hairrell were obtained from other sources and compared to the video images, and Hairrell was positively identified as the suspect.

Hairrell was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail Sept. 17, on a $11,250 surety and cash bond.