Three Local Walmart Thefts Land One Man in Jail
By: Melissa Foy
Updated: January 7, 2013
A man is behind bars this afternoon and police say he is suspected of three different theft incidents outside area Walmart stores overnight.
Alberto Cruz Ortiz is charged with theft from person, possession of marijuana, and failure to ID.
Just after 7 last night, police were called to the Lawrence Road Walmart where a man said another man approached him in the parking lot, displayed a hand-gun, and demanded money.
The victim described the offender as an Hispanic male wearing a Dallas Cowboys jacket and a black toboggan. Around that same time, a woman called police and told them a man approached her in the parking lot and stole her purse. But this time, no weapon was displayed.
About one hour later, police were dispatched to the Central Freeway Walmart. There, another woman reported a man approached her in the parking lot and stole her purse but ended up dropping it.
Witnesses told police the suspect fled across Northwest Freeway. Police located Ortiz at a home in the 2700 block of Palomino. Officers say he was on the front porch of the home and sitting next to a Dallas Cowboys jacket and a black beanie.
Police say there is surveillance video of all three incidents. They're investigating whether the offenses are related and say they're interviewing more people who may be connected to these crimes.
