The Atoka Police Department is investigating a series of alleged shoplifting and fraud incidents at the south Mississippi Avenue Walmart, with a Texas woman identified as a suspect. According to a police report filed by Sgt. James Riley, the incidents occurred between March 18th and April 17th, 2025, resulting in a total loss of $96.69 for the store.
The investigation began on April 18th when Asset Protection Employee Latrica Workman reported discovering suspicious activity from the previous day. Workman stated that a Walmart employee had alerted her to a potential ticket switch involving an unidentified woman on April 17th.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the woman attempting to scan a cheaper dog collar barcode while concealing a more expensive one. Although the transaction for the dog collar was ultimately voided, Workman continued to monitor the woman.
The footage allegedly then showed the same woman scanning one bag of Golden Rewards Chicken Flavored Dog Treats but placing two bags in her shopping sack. Later, after paying for some items, the woman allegedly left the store with an unscanned bottle of Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent hidden at the bottom of her cart. The total value of the items allegedly stolen on April 17th was $30.41.
Further review of Walmart surveillance footage revealed the same woman on two prior occasions, April 2nd and April 11th, 2025. In both instances, the woman reportedly used a card bearing the name Melissa Bush to make purchases.
Workman discovered that an individual with the same name had a prior arrest for theft at a Walmart in Denton, Texas, and the individual in the Atoka videos appeared to be the same person.
Review of a video from March 18th, 2025, allegedly showed Bush scanning only one of two bags of Haribo Gummy Bears she had selected and later scanning a cheaper dog treat barcode while concealing a more expensive bag of Golden Rewards Chicken Flavored Dog Treats.
Additionally, she allegedly left the store with an unpaid bottle of All Liquid Free Clear laundry soap in her cart. The total value of the items allegedly stolen on March 18th was $42.32.
The incident on April 2nd, 2025, reportedly involved fraud at a selfcheckout kiosk. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Bush scanning an $11.98 No Boundaries blue bra, which registered as $1.00 panties.
A yellow sticker was reportedly visible over the bra's barcode. The same allegedly occurred with an $11.98 pink bra. The total loss due to this alleged fraudulent activity was $23.96.
