Three charged in “systematic, ongoing” self-checkout theft scheme at retail stores
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Allen Edward Knox, 37, of Bell, and Lily McNeal, 33, of Lake Panasoffkee, were arrested on August 7 for grand theft, and Knox has now been charged in two other cases along with Michelle Lee McNeal, 36; in each case, one or more of the group allegedly scanned numerous items at self-checkout registers, then walked out with the shopping carts while Michelle McNeal pretended to pay and then walked out without paying.
On August 6, a Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officer responded to the Walmart at Butler Plaza, where the two women had scanned items at one self-checkout register while Knox scanned some items at a different self-checkout register and then abandoned his items and walked over to their register. Knox allegedly pushed their shopping cart out of the store before the items were paid for. Lily McNeal reportedly walked over to where Knox had been scanning items, but her card was declined, so she went back to the other self-checkout register and allegedly pushed another cart of items out of the store, saying that Michelle McNeal would pay for them. The items were reportedly worth $2,422.12.
Post Miranda, Lily McNeal said she believed Michelle McNeal was going to pay for the items.
Post Miranda, Michelle McNeal reportedly said at first that she didn’t know Knox or Lily McNeal but later said Lily was her sister; the officer later learned that Michelle McNeal and Knox are in a dating relationship. Michelle McNeal was charged via sworn complaint but has not been arrested on the charges.
Post Miranda, Knox reportedly said that he believed Michelle was going to pay for all the items and he didn’t mean to do anything wrong.
The arresting officer later filed a second report charging Knox and Michelle McNeal with engaging in a scheme to defraud. According to the report, a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) said that Knox and Michelle McNeal have run the scheme at “numerous” Walmart stores since February, in locations between Lake City and Ocala.
The LPO said that Michelle McNeal enters a store with at least two other people, and all three load up shopping carts full of thousands of dollars in merchandise; they then go to self-checkout registers, where Michelle McNeal scans (or short-scans or skips) the items, handing them to a second person to bag. The other people push the carts out of the store while Michelle McNeal stays behind, acting like she is going to pay for the items. When the transaction doesn’t go through, she waits until none of the employees are looking and then leaves the store without paying for anything.
The LPO said there are nine cases pending against Michelle McNeal for similar thefts at Walmart stores between Lake City and Ocala, and more cases are pending, now that the suspects have been identified. The LPO said Knox was with Michelle McNeal in at least three of the incidents.
The LPO also pointed out that boxed, brand-new Kobalt tools were visible inside the vehicle the three suspects had arrived in on August 6. After learning that the tools are primarily sold at Lowe’s, a GPD officer contacted a Lowe’s LPO, and surveillance video was reviewed at the Butler Plaza Lowe’s around the time of the Walmart theft.
The investigation found that Knox and Michelle McNeal entered the Lowe’s on August 6, shortly before the Walmart theft; Lily McNeal is reportedly not shown on the Lowe’s video.
At Lowe’s, Knox and Michelle McNeal loaded up the carts with the tools, and Michelle McNeal scanned the merchandise; as soon as the items were bagged, Knox allegedly pushed the cart out of the store. Michelle pretended to look through her purse while watching the only employee who was nearby; when the employee’s attention was elsewhere, Michelle McNeal allegedly quickly walked out without paying.
After a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle, an officer returned the tools to Lowe’s, where an employee scanned them and provided a receipt showing they were worth $1,024.
Knox has one felony conviction (non-violent) and five misdemeanor convictions (none violent). He is being held on $55,000 bail across the three cases.
Lily McNeal has no criminal history and was released on $10,000 bail.
A sworn complaint was filed against Michelle McNeal. Her full criminal history is unavailable, but she has served four state prison sentences, with her most recent release in September 2023.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Between the government printing money to cause inflation and people like this stealing thousands of dollars per event, no wonder costs of goods are going up.
I have for blame Biden and Cumala Harryazz. People didn’t have to steal when Trump was our President.
Shut up you sound stupid. Like no one has stolen anything when Trump was president.
Why any business would still do self checkout after the last 6 years of massive thefts makes no sense to me (shrug)
I completely agree. I hate thieves and the price increases they cause, but Wal-Mart, Lowes, Publix, et al, you’re brining this crap on yourselves. Hire actual human cashiers.
Just makes things cost more for those of us who actually PAY‼️
For once I agree with a Chronicle commenter!! These companies bring these problems upon themselves. Self-Checkout is like a bright, blinking neon “STEAL ME NOW” sign for would-be thieves.
I agree, but what kind of people would they be ‘forced’ to hire? DEI gum snappers with bad attitudes for $15.00 per hour + benefits. That’s why they’re going with machines.
Businesses have moved to self-serve because of the employees who cheat and steal from their employer. And some them have made it out of high school w/o learning basic life skills – like math and spelling.
Yes, that was one of the reasons given, very true. The driving force however iis it allowed corporations to do 2 things – 1. Hire less employees (main reason by far) and – 2. Change the mind set of (especially younger) consumers about what the shopping experience consists of.
I have mentioned before but very briefly what the plan is is for the large big-box stores to become mini-distribution centers whereby items are paid for via CC in advance and picked up in parking lot via associates to car or pay a nominal annual delivery fee to have them sent to home. Limits foot traffic, opportunities for theft by customers and employees, and to go cashless. Folks can judge on their own the merits of such a plan
Businesses have moved to self serve checkouts to reduce their employee headcounts. Less spent in wages, benefits, and covering for employees calling out.
There have always been crappy people that will steal from their employer. I would feel safe betting that the amount of shrinkage from self checkouts waaay exceeds any sticky fingers from actual cashiers.
I assume they just write it off.
Bidenomics has been making criminals out of once law abiding citizens. Just as planned by the lawyers who donate to the 👹DNC👿
Why is it when a scrupulous person commits a scrupulous crime, PEOPLE, such as yourself, blame it on politics? HOLD THE SCRUPULOUS PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS/HERS SCRUPULOUS BEHAVIOR!
Like Trump? Who was a major donor to the DNC for 20 years. Sit down. Bot.
I’m so sick of all the thieves since the self checkouts have came into play. Before self checkout, they had to stick things in their pants and under their shirts now, it’s whole buggies. I don’t like to blame the victims if any crime but I mean hey Walmart, they are never going to stop. It’s like a snake, you have to cut its head off or it will still bite you.
Seems the employees are too busy filling online orders instead of doing anything else. Maybe they should close the store and just become like eBay online only. The thieves are running it for everyone.
I have no problem ever showing my receipt. The ones that do are obviously hiding something. I don’t care what they say, id refuse service to the scabby low life’s.
And, by the way, I don’t give a rats a$$ what you thieves respond to my post. If you can’t afford an item, don’t go to the store thinking someone wants to give it to you for free, you’re simply not privileged for free gifts.
Yep ..I said it.
Too bad we always see the effects of last term’s president.
This turd taco of an economy we’re swallowing is entirely Trump-onimics. When you vote for a man who has bankrupted more businesses than he has succeeded with, you can’t possibly be surprised he also bankrupted the USA.
Ah, the sweet smell of troll-bots in the morning…
Seriously? Explain that one to me.
Yes. And I promise lower grocery prices, 25,000 to first time home buyers, no bail for rioters and looters, immediate citizenship for lawn care workers, tampoooooons in all restrooms, free health care to include all illegal aliens. And to look at tomorrow because tomorrow is tomorrow. And I want a national monument to my mentor Willie Brown.
Too bad your are as stupid as the real Kamala. It has nothing to do with anything else except she is that unintelligent when it comes to being a leader and fixing common sense problems. At least Dementia Joe had an hidden excuse but she doesnt. She can’t lie or cover up her support and cover up of Biden and his failures on the border, economy, crime. Too much tape and replays of her past word salads and liberal ideas she can not say I changed my mind, scream “do over”, or chackle her way out. And please TT Walz can’t get much weirder than him. But whatever makes you feel good. You like other liberals need to learn that you are suffering from Trump Anxiety and probable need assistance.
That is so awful to say. KUHMAHLA is so full of wisdom because she knows what tomorrow will bring because tomorrow brings tomorrow and then after that is another tomorrow. She will bring us immediate grocery relief like she said. In addition we are going to get 25,900 tobuy
A house. It will be great. Who stands with kumahla????
More and more items are either behind the cage or you have to order them online. A store resource manager told me it’s because of the massive theft.
Someone, thats not the main reason the cost of our goods is going up, if you want to know the MAIN reason, LOOK AT OUR BORDER CRISIS, THAT THE MEDIA TRIES TO KEEP OUT OF OUR HEARING ABOUT. Thousands and Thousands of illegal aliens are crossing our borders with Mexico and Canada every day. They are getting our Tax, Social Security, and Medicare Money, hand over fist. YOU CAN THANK THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS.
BINGO!
ABSOLUTELY 10000% CORRECT!
But these thieves were not illegals
The problem is not self checkout, it is the unwillingness of stores to stop shoplifting, and the unwillingness of police forces and prosecutors to give long sentences for shoplifting. The days when a key skill for a wal mart employee was the ability to outrun the typical shoplifter are long gone.
The lack of consequences is definitely the driving force.
Self check outs make the crime easier to commit.
Need to legalize citizen vigilantism by statute and allow citizens to be compensated 10% of the value of items that would have been stolen, while shielding them from any civil prosecution after using reasonable force to detain the shoplifters.
The problem would fix itself. There are plenty of people who would love to crack a thief on the head as they waddled out of the store. Might even turn some borderline thugs back to the lawful path.
Well, it’s fun to think about anyway.