Woman steals 69 items from Ohio grocery story and lies about being positive for COVID-19
North Olmsted OH Sept 30 2020
A woman was charged with petty theft and criminal trespass Sept. 23 after stealing over $1,000 worth of food and merchandise at Giant Eagle, 27264 Lorain Road in North Olmsted, according to police.
North Olmsted police responded to the call around 7:30 p.m., where they found Leona Chatman pushing a shopping cart full of groceries through the parking lot, according to a police report.
She was taken back into the building to the store’s loss prevention office, where a representative said they watched Chatman take multiple steaks, sea food, including multiple lobster tails, wine and makeup and left the store without paying for them.
Chatman allegedly stole a total of 69 items, the report said.
She was also stopped for theft at a different Giant Eagle for theft in Rocky River, the representative told police.
Chatman confirmed that she stole the items and said her family had fallen on hard times.
When being placed under arrest, Chatman told the North Olmsted officer that she tested positive for novel coronavirus.
After speaking further with the officer, she said she never took a COVID-19 test but thinks she was infected.
Chatman has a court date from 1 p.m., Oct. 6 at Rocky River Municipal Court.
