Shoplifter tries to make getaway in motorised wheelchair

[Millennium]

Shoplifter tries to make getaway in motorised wheelchair

Louisiana shoplifter arrested after allegedly trying to make escape from Walmart branch in motorised wheelchair

The theif had not taken into account that his getaway vehicle was emblazoned with a sign reading 'Property of Walmart'. Photo: Alamy

By David Millward, US Correspondent
2:27PM GMT 25 Jan 2015

A 45-year-old shoplifter has been arrested after allegedly trying to make his escape from a supermarket in a motorised wheelchair.

Daniel Gaspard’s heist at a branch of Walmart in Eunice, Louisiana was not accompanied by a screech of tyres but the gentle hum of the trolley's motor.

To add insult to injury even the getaway vehicle was stolen – it was provided by Walmart, a major US supermarket chain, for its disabled customers.

Gaspard had persuaded the store to let him use the trolley by telling staff he had broken his foot.

He then packed $73 (£49) worth of goods into the trolley including an adidas sun visor, a TV antenna, a bottle of vodka and a set of Mardi Gras cups.

He then trundled gently through the checkout lanes and out of the store.

Gaspard had apparently not taken into account that his getaway vehicle was emblazoned with a sign reading “Property of Walmart”.

The theft was captured on CCTV and a member of Walmart’s staff contacted the police after seeing one of the store’s carts being driven across the shopping centre’s car park.

It came to a rather predictable end at a nearby truck stop, when Officer Doyle arrived in his patrol car with blue lights flashing and siren blaring and blocked off Gaspard’s escape.

According to Officer Doyle’s report, Gaspard was unable to provide a receipt for the goods or the motorised wheelchair.

Gaspard has been charged with both shoplifting and the theft of the $3,000 shopping cart, as well as being banned from all branches of Walmart.