Shoplifting Florida woman busted after trying to hide in Big Lots ceiling
Yesterday, Florida’s Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office shared a story about a shoplifting report that ended in multiple criminal charges for a 37-year-old woman from North Fort Myers. That woman, identified by authorities as Kristina Perkins, ended up climbing into the ceiling of the Big Lots store in Port Charlotte on Thursday evening. Perkins had her shoplifting stash with her as she tried evading authorities by hiding in the ceiling.
Deputies responded to the Big Lots store at approximately 7:31 p.m., after the manager called to report that he had a female shoplifter cornered in the lady’s restroom. That woman was later identified to be Perkins.
The manager advised that Perkins was inside the store for several hours and had entered the women’s restroom with a shopping cart full of merchandise. The manager attempted to enter the restroom to check on Perkins, observing several garbage cans positioned in a manner to barricade the door. The manager verbally advised Perkins that she was caught and law enforcement was on the way.
When Perkins did not exit the bathroom, the manager entered the bathroom and observed tiles missing from the ceiling. Perkins was nowhere to be found. Deputies were able to make visual contact with Perkins several times by removing tiles from various points in the ceiling; however, the fugitive shoplifter disregarded the deputies’ commands to give up and would move to other locations in the ceiling.
Charlotte County Fire & EMS responded for assistance, utilizing their ladders and thermal imaging system. Big Lots was evacuated due to the danger of Perkins falling through the ceiling. Over the course of several hours, a systematic search of the ceiling was completed. A deputy located Perkins’ bag during search. The purse contained three syringes and a spoon with white residue that tested positive for Morphine.
The search was discontinued at 12:20 a.m. A deputy remained inside the store for surveillance, and at 1:40 a.m., Perkins finally came out of the ceiling by climbing down a stack of shelves. She was arrested as soon as her feet hit the ground.
Big Lots reports significant damage to their ceiling, duct work, and dry wall. The business will remain closed until repairs can be made.
Perkins was charged with:
- Felony Criminal Mischief,
- Petit Theft (3rd Offense, Felony),
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,
- Resisting a Merchant, and
- Resisting Law Enforcement without Violence.
(Source: Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office)
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
