Woman charged with theft after visiting Wal-Mart

Spokane Valley police arrested a Loon Lake, Wash., woman after she apparently tried to celebrate Christmas before leaving a Spokane Valley Wal-Mart.

About 6 p.m. Saturday, a Wal-Mart security officer observed a woman drinking from a bottle of orange juice, that she hadn’t purchased yet, then removed the Barbie Hug Me Bear from a package and gave it to her 2-year-old granddaughter, Reagan said. The women then went to the sporting goods department where she swapped the price tag for a metal detector with that of a cake topper.

The woman went through the Wal-Mart check stand, paid cake topper price for a metal detector and didn’t pay for the Barbie or for a package of medicated lip balm, Reagan said. Then she left the store.

Bobbi Dene Collett, 48, was charged with second-degree theft, Spokane Valley police spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said. She was booked into Spokane County Jail.

Former tenant charged with scamming resident

A woman was bilked out of $1,500 when a former tenant pretended to be the landlord of an East Longfellow Avenue residence.

Deborah J. Johnson, 37, was charged with first-degree theft and forgery on Sunday, Reagan said. A male accomplice thought to be involved in the scam remains is under investigation.

The female victim gave the couple the money, but got concerned when they didn’t give her a key in exchange or return her phone calls, Reagan said. The victim was contacted by the actual owner after she left a note on the door at the residence. He told her the two people she described were former tenants and had no authority to rent the residence.

Johnson told police the male accomplice came up with the scheme, Reagan said. He was already in jail on related charges when officers spoke to Johnson.