ALPENA (WWJ) – A man is facing charges after he and a woman were allegedly caught stealing merchandise by swapping barcodes at a Northern Michigan Walmart -- the same store where another man was previously caught doing the same thing.
Michigan State Police troopers were called to the Walmart on M-32 in Alpena on June 21 after employees spotted a man and woman removing barcodes from less expensive items and placing them on more expensive ones.
An associate from loss prevention was going through security footage when they noticed it happening. Footage from March through June shows the pair stealing more than $1,600 worth of merchandise during that span.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Michael Ray Jackson of Alpena, was arraigned on Sept. 20 on one count of first-degree retail fraud after turning himself in to police in late August.
Officials said a 44-year-old Alpena woman was also interviewed in relation to the case, but it was not clear whether she has been charged.
This case comes after another man was busted doing the exact same thing at the exact same store.
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MSP officials said earlier this month 36-year-old Joseph Carl Alexander was caught on surveillance footage in real-time trying to pull off the trick. When he went to the self-checkout register and scanned the items, the items registered did not match what he was scanning, according to MSP.
When the employee tried to talk to Joseph after the purchase, the man said he had to go outside to check on his children, but he fled the scene after leaving the store.
In total, Alexander scammed the store out of more than $1,100 in merchandise.
Officials said Alexander was seen on camera doing it multiple times since June.
Authorities have not said what types of items were stolen in either canes.
It is unclear whether the cases are related.
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