BEDFORD – A Bloomington man was arrested after Bedford Police detectives investigated a report of a theft.
The detectives began their investigation after an incident on December 30, 2022. According to police on December 30, 2022, John Parkes, 35, of Bloomington, parked a white Ford truck outside of the lawn and garden department at Walmart at 7:19 p.m. He walked into the store and exited the store with a trough that he had not paid for and placed it in the bed of the pickup. He then returned to the store again at 3:44 a.m. where he is seen driving around the side of the store multiple times.
At 5:10 a.m., the white Ford truck can be seen parking beside Lawn and Garden once again. This time Parkes walked up to the gate door and returns with a Go-Kart and puts it in the bed of the truck and leaves.
Police say Parkes cut the locks from the gated area to enter and steal the items.
Parkes did not render payment for the merchandise in his possession.
On February 1, 2023, Parks is again parked outside of the garden center and entered the store at 6:18 p.m. He picked out multiple selections of merchandise and left the store without paying for merchandise valued at more than $100.
Police obtained video, statements, and copies of receipts and then forwarded the information to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office and a warrant was issued for Parkes’ arrest on charges of theft and criminal mischief.
