An investigation into alleged ticket switching at the Atoka Walmart has led to the identification of a suspect from Pittsburg County, according to Atoka Police.
On May 8th, 2025, Patrolman Grady Blackwood of the Atoka Police Department received paperwork from the Asset Protection (AP) manager at the Atoka Walmart regarding a theft case. The AP manager identified the suspect as Caren Johnson, born July 16th, 1975, of Pittsburg County. The identification was reportedly made through a payment card used by the suspect, which bore her name, and a matching social media profile.
Patrolman Blackwood further corroborated Johnson's identity as the individual involved by comparing her driver's license photo and a small tattoo on her right forearm, visible in social media images, to the individual seen in the store's surveillance footage.
The AP manager's report detailed two separate alleged incidents of ticket switching occurring within a 30-day period at the Atoka Walmart: Incident 1: April 25th, 2025 According to the report, the AP manager was reviewing transaction history related to ticket switching when Caren Johnson was identified as being inside Atoka Walmart. Upon reviewing CCTV footage from a self-checkout, Johnson is allegedly seen scanning an umbrella but inputting it as a clearance cup priced at $2.48. Next, she reportedly scanned a pair of Stitch pajama pants, which rang up as sale flare pants. A tag is visible falling off the pants near the register in the footage. The final item allegedly manipulated was a bottle of body wash, which was scanned as deodorant.
Incident 2: May 5th, 2025 The AP manager reported discrepancies in the inventory of $2.00 tank tops. Reviewing sales footage from the self-checkout area at approximately 11:00 AM, a female, later identified as Caren Johnson, is allegedly seen scanning a bag of chips. She then picked up a men's toad and frog shirt, priced at $8.98, which reportedly scanned as a $2.00 black tank top. Her next item, a strawberry shortcake shirt costing $8.98, also allegedly scanned as a $2.00 black tank top. After completing her transactions, Johnson is seen leaving the store past all points of sale and entering a white SUV.
The AP manager also informed Atoka Police of alleged prior incidents of ticket switching involving Caren Johnson at another Walmart location in McAlester, Oklahoma.
