Wannabe thief disguised as Walmart employee tries to use receipt to steal

GASTONIA, N.C. — A couple at the Walmart in east Gastonia said a man pretending to be an employee demanded their receipt and threatened them with pepper spray Monday.

Jerry Butler thinks the imposter wanted to use their receipt to steal items from the store.

[Walmart has become crime magnet in many North Carolina cities]

The wannabe thief tried to walk out of Walmart with a shopping cart full of items, but he was turned away by an employee checking receipts.

Moments later, Butler and his wife walked out with gifts for their grandchildren, and the man walked up behind them wearing a nametag and claiming to be a Walmart employee.

“He told my wife, said, ‘I need to see that receipt again. The lady that checked it, she thinks she might have read it wrong,’” Butler said.

They gave the man the receipt.

Police said the man then tried to use the receipt to steal more items, but workers were onto him.

Butler said he went back inside and told employees what happened. They said they had no one working for them that fit that description. The who took his receipt then ran by.

Butler chased the man through the parking lot.

“Somebody’s got to take a stand somewhere,” Butler said.

Butler grabbed the man, who pointed a can of mace at him.

“He was bold, ain’t no doubt about it,” Butler said.

Police got a good picture the man from store cameras, Butler said.

He fears the man, dressed an employee, will try this again.

Police have not released a description of the thief.

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