Career shoplifter tries to rob Walmart during ‘shop with a cop’ event that brought over dozen uniformed officers into store
A familiar shop‑lifter slipped into a Wisconsin Walmart again, only to find the store turning into a makeshift police station thanks to its annual “Shop with a Cop” charity event.
Sophia Malak, 24, was swiftly nabbed by officers near the checkout line as the Hartford Police Department announced in a recent Facebook post.
Just days before, she’d swiped over $600 worth of goods, but this time she was caught dragging a cart full of merchandise toward the exit.
The police released a still from the robbery, with her face blurred, and later posted a mugshot from the Washington County Jail.
“Unfortunately for her, she walked straight into Walmart during the one time of year when the store is basically a satellite police station,” the department wrote, adding that, with a few quick observations and a whole lot of “you’ve got to be kidding me,” the officers confirmed her identity and took her into custody amid the Christmas cheer.
Photos taken inside Walmart show her pushing a laden cart toward the crowd‑stretched hallway, while the Facebook post noted that roughly 15 officers were present for the event.
When they approached her, the cops spotted over $250 worth of products in her cart and, according to Fox News, she claimed she was trying to get gifts for her kids.
She eventually admitted she’d planned to steal but changed her mind once she saw how many officers were inside.
Later, police found more than $900 worth of toys in the back of her vehicle, leading to felony retail‑theft charges.
The department concluded, “If you’re planning felony retail theft… maybe avoid the day when the building is basically 30% law enforcement and 70% wrapping paper.”
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