BECKER COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — Two people from Pelican Rapids are facing felony theft charges after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from the Detroit Lakes Walmart over the course of nearly two months.
According to court records, Adrien Martin Saavedra Martinez, 18, and Ebony Lynn Zamora, 20, are both charged with felony theft in Becker County District Court.
Martinez, a Walmart employee, is accused of participating in multiple thefts between August 3 and September 29. Investigators say a Walmart asset protection officer became suspicious after Zamora was stopped at the door on October 3 with unpaid items in her cart. The discovery prompted an internal review.
Store surveillance and transaction records allegedly revealed that Zamora frequently went through Martinez’s checkout lane, where he failed to scan several of her items. Additional footage reportedly showed both individuals stealing merchandise on separate occasions.
The total loss to Walmart is estimated at more than $2,000. When questioned by Detroit Lakes Police, Martinez initially admitted to taking some items for himself but denied intentionally failing to scan merchandise for others. Investigators, however, found no evidence of similar errors with other customers.
Prosecutors charged Martinez under a statute that allows multiple thefts within a certain period to be combined into a single felony count. He posted a $10,000 bond and was released under conditions that he remain law-abiding and comply with any no-trespass orders. His next court appearance is set for November 24.
Zamora is also charged with felony theft. Investigators allege she concealed items in her cart and failed to present them for scanning. Walmart’s loss prevention report estimated her involvement in approximately $2,185 in unscanned merchandise. Her first court appearance is scheduled for November 18 before District Judge Michelle Lawson.
The case remains under investigation by the Detroit Lakes Police Department and Walmart Asset Protection. For more information about Minnesota theft laws, visit the Minnesota Statutes §609.52.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
