Two Vancouver area residents have been arrested in connection with the theft of car battery cores from the Woodland Walmart store, Woodland Police said in a news release.
Summer N. Smith and Michael R. Scott were taken into custody March 23 and charged with 14 counts of burglary, theft, malicious mischief and trespass, according to police. A spokeswoman at the Cowlitz County Jail said Friday they remained in jail in lieu of $15,000 bond apiece.
Police said the thefts occurred from May 2013 through last month from a locked and secured storage area in the store. Walmart reported the loss of 349 batteries with a total value of $4,188 during that period, according to the release.
“The suspects steal the batteries and then take them to a recycling center where they receive an average of $12 per core,” the report said. “Additionally, there had been damage to the storage area when the suspects forced entry into the storage area.”
Washington state law defines burglary as entering or remaining in a building with the intent to commit a crime. Any secured or fenced area used for storage is considered a building.
“When Smith and Scott forced entry into the secured storage area where the battery cores were stored, and then stole them, they committed a burglary,” according to the news release.
Woodland Police are asking help from witnesses or recycling center personnel who may have information about the alleged crimes. The department can be reached by calling (360) 225-6965.
