A Cumberland County woman is facing felony charges locally after allegedly stealing more than $2,000 in merchandise from the Oneida Walmart.

On Friday, June 10, an Oneida Police department investigator was called to the local Walmart. Tresta Stepp, 38, allegedly stole a large amount of merchandise from the store and reportedly left the Walmart parking lot in a vehicle with another man.  Later, when she was stopped by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office deputy, she told the deputy that she had stolen items from Walmart and ran from the store, throwing the merchandise into a trash can at a car wash after fleeing the area. The deputies were unable to locate the two full bags of merchandise Stepp had stolen although they did find one of the items, however, it had been altered, opened and unable to be sold. The total value of the stolen items was $2,096.17.

According to the warrant, Walmart informed OPD that the man who was with Stepp had been ordered not to return to Walmart stores in Crossville and Cookeville following shoplifting incidents at those stores in February and May. Both suspects were taken into custody and charged with theft.

Meanwhile, the Walmart shoplifting incident helped Oneida police solve another shoplifting incident that occurred last month at Tractor Supply Co. When an employee of Tractor Supply viewed the surveillance from Walmart of Stepp, they recognized her as being the same person who shoplifted from their store on May 5. Theft charges were filed against both Stepp and co-defendant Norman C. Larue, 45, of Crossville, in connection with the alleged Tractor Supply shoplifting.

According to Jones’ warrant, Larue repeatedly entered a fitting room inside the store wearing a pair of sandals and exited with a pair of boots on his feet. Allegedly, the pair took two pairs of Carhatt boots, Columbia boxers and t-shirts, Levi pants, Liberty bib overalls, and Wrangler jeans. The value of the stolen items was $513.92.