SLP Police Arrest Habitual Thief for Shoplifting from Kohl's

A Minneapolis man with almost 50 previous theft convictions has been charged with shoplifting almost $2,500 worth of merchandise from a store in St. Louis Park.

Wayne Lee Waller, 55, who lists his address as a homeless shelter in north Minneapolis, is charged with felony theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by St. Louis Park Police Officer Tony Pacholke, officers were called to Kohl’s on Highway 7 in St. Louis Park on Oct. 15 to investigate a shoplifting.

Police met with the store’s loss prevention supervisor, who said an employee had seen a man later identified as Waller conceal merchandise under his coat. The supervisor reviewed surveillance video, which showed Waller hiding almost $500 worth of electronic tablets beneath his coat.

The supervisor ran after Waller, who jumped into a car and fled the area, according to the complaint.

Store employees told police that Waller had previously been caught on surveillance video stealing an electric razor on Aug. 31, four electronic tablets on Sept. 8, a set of Calphalon pans on Sept. 10 and four electronic tablets on Oct. 11.

The merchandise stolen in the five separate thefts was valued at $2,409, according to store employees.

Police checked the license plate number of the car in which Waller fled the store and found that the registered owner lived in Hopkins. When they went to that home, they found Waller near a Dumpster, where they found two Kohl’s security tags; Waller was arrested.

Police recovered the merchandise taken from Kohl’s on Oct. 15, but the items stolen in the earlier theft was not found, according to the complaint.

Waller’s criminal history, dating back to 1992, includes at least 47 convictions for theft and a variety of other charges.

Waller remains in the Hennepin County Jail on a $5,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Nov. 14 in Hennepin County District Court.