Sheboygan County, WI (WHBL) - Two women are facing felony retail theft charges, accused of stealing nearly $2000 worth of perfume from the Target store on state Highway 28, in the Village of Kohler.
The thefts were noticed by a member of the Target Asset Protection Team who picked up on discrepancies in the fragrance department. The security member contacted Kohler police who reviewed surveillance video in the hopes of identifying likely suspects.
A criminal complaint filed in Sheboygan County court alleges that 17-year-old Vanessa L Guzman of Sheboygan, and 27-year-old Priscilla L Mercado of Green Bay entered the Target store on August 31, 2015 where surveillance video shows they split up before allegedly committing the thefts.
Initially officers thought that Guzmán, who is accused of stealing $968.80 worth of perfume, acted alone. Then, on September 1st, a second member of the target asset protection team took a second look at the surveillance video footage and noticed that Guzman walked into the store with another female who remained outside of the view of security cameras, once inside the store. However, exterior footage shows the women met up outside of the building once the crimes were committed.
Kohler police identify the second female as Priscilla Mercado. Police allege that surveillance video clearly showed fragrances being placed in Guzman’s purse which was then later placed in Mercado’s shopping cart, before the women exited the store with the stolen items.
An anti-theft alarm was activated as Mercado exited the store but she continued to the parking lot.
A Kohler police officer states that when he asked Mercado why she did not stop inside the store once the alarm was activated, Mercado replied, “Store alarms always activate when I walk past them.”
The officer says Mercado maintains that she did not understand that alarms activate when stolen items pass them.
Both women could face up to three years in prison and fines of up to $10,000, if convicted.