Staff Report

Adrienne Theresa Canarecci

Kimberly D. Balandzich

WARSAW — Two South Bend women were recently arrested after stealing more than $3,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart.

Adrienne Theresa Canarecci, 29, 1635 N. Johnson St., South Bend, is charged with corrupt business influence, a level 5 felony; two counts of theft, both level 6 felonies; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

Kimberly D. Balandzich, 51, 513 S. 33rd St., South Bend, is charged with theft, a level 6 felony; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On Nov. 16, 2020, a Warsaw Police detective was contacted by a Walmart employee regarding four thefts from the store. The incidents took place on Oct. 23, 2020; Oct. 26, 2020; Nov. 1, 2020; and Nov. 8, 2020.

According to court documents, on Oct. 23, 2020, a Walmart employee attempted to check Canarecci’s receipt. At the time of this incident, Canarecci was accompanied by a man. The two were pushing a cart containing a television and other merchandise, but they refused to stop for the employee. Video surveillance shows two vehicles entering the parking lot. After several minutes, Canarecci, Balandzich, and another man enter the store and begin putting various items in a cart.

About an hour after the group entered the store, the man who was with Canarecci when her receipt was being checked is shown meeting up with her and putting merchandise in a cart. The two are shown concealing items inside a trash can in their cart.

With the assistance of the Valparaiso Police Department, Canarecci and Balandzich were able to be identified as being involved in the thefts.

On Oct. 26, 2020, a Walmart employee informed the store’s asset protection department that two people had walked out of the store with a television and other items as the employee attempted to check their receipt. The employee said the two refused to stop. Surveillance video identified the two people as Canarecci and Balandzich.

During that incident, Canarecci and Balandzich are shown selecting various items and placing them in a cart. They also used a trash can to conceal other items. Surveillance showed them refusing to stop for a receipt check and leaving the store with the merchandise.

On Nov. 9, 2020, Walmart’s asset prevention department and Warsaw Police officers were investigating a theft at the store. Surveillance video showed that on Nov. 8, 2020, Canarecci and Balandzich enter the store and select multiple items of merchandise and then leave the store without paying for the items.

The value of the stolen merchandise from Oct. 23, 2020, was $1,627.47; Oct. 26, 2020, was $557.27; and Nov. 8, 2020, was $1,196.58.

Canarecci and Balandzich were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on May 10.