A 32-year-old police officer from Gurnee, Illinois, named Antoine J. Smith, has been accused of stealing items from a local Walmart on Sunday afternoon. According to the Lake and McHenry County Scanner, Smith allegedly committed the theft at the store on Grand Avenue. The image of the suspect can be seen in a tweet posted by LMCScanner.
Smith reportedly took several items without paying their full retail value, resulting in a loss of less than $300. He was arrested by officers from the Gurnee Police Department on the same day as the incident. Smith has been accused of “under-ringing” at the store’s self-checkout kiosk, where items are deliberately scanned at lower prices or not scanned at all.
Shortly after being taken into custody and facing a charge of retail theft, Smith resigned from the Gurnee Police Department. The incident highlights the challenges faced by retailers with self-checkout kiosks, as theft and shoplifting incidents increase.
It was also revealed that Smith had previously been a student at Lake County Tech Campus and had been sworn in as a police officer at Gurnee Village Hall. Despite not being on duty at the time of the alleged theft, Smith is scheduled to appear in court on May 28.
Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor emphasized the department’s commitment to integrity and professionalism, stating that any actions contrary to these principles will be met with swift and decisive action.
