Theft at Walmart Leads to Heroin Charge

A local woman is due in Concord District Court on Aug. 24, on felony theft and drug charges, according to police.

Jessica M. Benwell, 35, of Franklin, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. on July 18, 2015, after police were called to Walmart on Loudon Road for a report of a shoplifter in custody.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

The officers went to the loss prevention office and spoke to the employee who saw Benwell select several pieces of women’s clothing in the store and allegedly conceal a tank top.

Benwell then went to the self-service check out register and paid for several items but allegedly put several other items into the bags without scanning them, according to the officer. The employee asked her to come back to the loss prevention office after that, according to police.

Benwell allegedly attempted to steal a tank top, a T-shirt, two pairs of panties, a portable cell power pack, a novelty item, and a cami, all valued at about $54. Due to her previous criminal history, she was a full custody arrest. During a search, an officer allegedly found a lump of brown, powdery substance wrapped in tin foil (allegedly heroin) in her front key pocket of her pants so the drug charge was added.

Benwell previously was convicted of shoplifting in Franklin District Court in May 2005, and April 2007, so the charge was upgraded to a felony.

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