Cheyanne E. Dwiggins’ sweet tooth got the better of her on Wednesday and her method of shoplifting became creative, according to police.
Dwiggins, 18, was arrested Wednesday morning for allegedly trying to swipe several pieces of candy, a few kitchen utensils and a well-hidden 15-ounce box of strawberry Nestle’s Nesquik from Bauer’s Market, 815 Main St.
Shortly before 9:30 a.m., store owner Scott Law watched Dwiggins for about 30 minutes and knew she had pocketed several items, according to court papers.
Dwiggins walked up to the cash register to pay for a 59-cent Sather candy necklace, but only had 40 cents. After spending so long in the store, and not having enough money to buy a piece of candy, Law said the red flags went up.
Law confronted her as she was about to walk out the door, and detained her until Lapel police could arrive. Dwiggins allegedly tried making a run for it, but Law grabbed her coat from behind. She began cursing at Law and the two briefly struggled until police arrived, about a minute later.
When Lapel Police Chief Dennis Molina pulled up, Dwiggins’ pants were down and her rear was exposed — weighted down by the number of items she was taking — as she tried backing out of the store’s door, according to court documents.
“As I pulled in, a young, white male approached my vehicle and pointed to the front door where a bare, white butt was attempting to back out of the door,” Molina’s case report reads.
Police ultimately found a potato peeler, ice cream scoop, a set of measuring spoons, a pair of cake decorating gel tubes and six Rollo candy bars on Dwiggins.
Once at the Madison County Jail, Deputy Lee Ann Ellingwood was given the task of removing the Nesquik, which Dwiggins had placed in her crotch, according to court documents.
Dwiggins, 912 Main St., Lapel, faces a single count of theft, a Class D felony, and made her initial appearance before Madison County Magistrate Stephen Clase. Clase entered an automatic not-guilty plea on her behalf and approved the appointment of public defender. Bond was set at $5,000.
Law said Thursday that Dwiggins is the 10th person he’s caught shoplifting, or trying to shoplift, from the Lapel store this year.
“It’s been really frustrating,” said Law, who’s owned the Lapel store for about four years and has managed the Frankton Bauer’s for nearly a decade. “It’s very irritating. Yesterday’s incident was just the icing on the cake.”
Along with shoplifting on the rise, the number of bad checks his store receives has also been increasing. During 2006, he said, the store’s gotten about $2,250 in bad checks.
“In order to recoup that loss, I have to sell $10,000 in merchandise,” Law said. “If people are destitute ... we’ll make sure they don’t go hungry. But to steal, either through shoplifting or writing bad checks, that’s just immoral and I pursue those people.”
Store butcher Daniel Howells, who was also in the store for Dwiggins arrest, agreed, hoping publicity will decrease shoplifting at the store.
“Hopefully, this helps deter people from trying to steal from us,” he said. “Don’t steal candy you don’t need.”
Local News
Nesquick, utensils found in woman's pants
- Local News
-
-
Local churches work with Change This World
While 1.02 billion people are undernourished and 23,483 die of starvation or preventable disease per day in the world, according to Food and Agriculture statistics on Change This World’s website, there are those who are trying to make a difference by decreasing those numbers.
-
Elwood mayor says new administration has had zero firings
Mayor Ron Arnold, who took office Jan. 1, said his administration has not fired a single employee.
-
Got flowers for Valentine's Day?
If you’re a wife or girlfriend reading this story, avert your eyes. This one’s for the men in your life.
-
Snow showers this evening
Our snow chances are greater during the course of this week. Today will begin dry with increasing clouds and highs in the mid 30s.
-
Arrest Log: Feb. 13
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Poll question for Monday, Feb. 13
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Getting Together: Anderson Symphony Orchestra seeks musical connections
Getting patrons in the proper mood for Valentine’s Day, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra delighted its audience with both classical and popular melodies of love on Saturday night. From Tchaikovsky to the Beatles, the professional musicians performed tales of love, tragedy and romance.
-
What's Where: Feb. 13
Local meetings and activities are scheduled Monday.
-
Scott Underwood: TV section alterations on the way
Two Sundays ago, The Herald Bulletin introduced a new product called Click, replacing the TV Week section. Like TV Week, Click includes TV listings grids, sports listings and Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
-
Analysis: Exceptional voice seemed lost in Houston's excessive fame
Whitney Houston’s numerous comeback attempts never gelled into anything the public cared about.
- More Local News Headlines
-
