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Man charged with retail theft, trespassing at Walmart

A man was recently charged with multiple felonies for a string of thefts at Walmart in Butler Township even though previous convictions bar him from entering the store at all, police said.

Township police charged Stephen P. Vine, 29, of Butler, with five counts of felony retail theft and five counts of criminal trespass for several incidents in November and December.

On Jan. 6, Vine was placed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, moving all charges forward to the Court of Common Pleas.

Police said Dec. 9, Walmart’s loss and prevention team reported a theft where a man, later identified as Vine, scanned 16 items worth $165 on the Scan and Go cellphone app. Vine paid for only two items and passed all points of sale, according to documents.

Employees reported confronting Vine, who refused to show a receipt. Police said he abandoned the cart and exited the store.

According to officers, the employees said they recognized Vine from thefts in November. In one case, Vine scanned 15 items worth $341 and paid for only two. In another, police said Vine scanned 34 items worth $367 and paid for only one.

On Dec. 6 and 9, Vine again scanned items valued at $127 and $138, respectively, and failed to pay the full amount, documents said.

Officers said they were able to link Vine’s vehicle to him and the thefts with information from Walmart’s loss and prevention team.

Vine was interviewed by officers Jan. 2. Police said he told them he was at Walmart Dec. 6 and 9, and that he had seven or eight different Scan and Go accounts.

According to police, Vine said the charges had to be a mistake and that he paid for the items left in a cart Dec. 9. He also reported attempting to contact Walmart about the items, police said.

In addition, police said Vine admitted that he had trespassed at Walmart in two other states. Police were provided with documents showing Vine is prohibited on Walmart properties in California and Kentucky.

The total value of all the items stolen amounted to $1,112.

On Thursday, Vine waived his right to a preliminary hearing, moving all charges forward to the Court of Common Pleas.

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