Debbie Tinnell, left, of Lake Havasu City, is sworn in as postmaster of Lake Havasu City by postal employee Marla Lacy in this 2017 photo.
Lake Havasu City’s postmaster was taken into custody last week, with law enforcement officials now saying that she was responsible for as many as nine shoplifting incidents since late October.
According to the Lake Havasu City Police Department, each offense took place at Havasu’s Walmart location from Oct. 25 through Dec. 11. Investigators say that in each incident, 67-year-old Deborah J. Tinnell failed to scan items at the location’s self-checkout; or swapped UPC codes for certain items to pay less than the intended value of store merchandise.
Officers responded to the location on Dec. 11, where store employees reported as many as four shoplifting incidents between 12:59 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
In those incidents, store employees reported that Tinnell failed to pay for items including cream cheese, gelatin, paper plates, plastic cups, a sponge, party poppers, clothing hangers, facial wipes, peanut butter, celery sticks – all for a combined value of $74.90 in allegedly stolen merchandise.
Previous similar shoplifting incidents reportedly took place at the store from Oct. 25 to Nov. 19. In each incident, police say Tinnell paid for items purchased at the time of each transaction with a credit or debit card issued in her name. In each instance, Police say Tinnell was recorded with video surveillance footage at the self-checkout kiosk as well as overhead surveillance cameras.
