Police say Louisiana shoplifter arrested

Published 1:01 am Sunday, March 11, 2018

 

NATCHEZ — A Clayton man was arrested Friday after police say he tried to pull off the same crime twice in one day.

Natchez Police Department officers arrested Roosevelt Atkins, no age provided, 2126 Louisiana 65, Clayton, on two charges of trespassing, two charges of shoplifting and a charge of malicious mischief greater than $1,000. The charges date back to an incident that happened just before Christmas.

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Natchez Police Lt. Scott Frye said Atkins reportedly filled a shopping cart with several items in Walmart in December and then attempted to leave through an exit in the back of the building, shattering a glass door and electronic clocks in the process.

After leaving Walmart, Frye said Atkins fled to Monroe, La., where he reportedly repeated the crime, this time without smashing the glass door.

Both crimes occurred on the same day, just a few hours and 97 miles apart.

“He hit the Natchez Walmart pretty early,” Frye said. “We suspect he just went to Monroe and did it again.”

Frye said Monroe police officers delivered Atkins back to Natchez on Friday.

The glass door and electronic clocks Atkins reportedly shattered cost more than $2,000 to fix, Frye said, accounting for the felony malicious mischief charge.

Atkins was still in the Adams County jail on Saturday morning with no bond set.