Shoppers Scanned Kool-Aid Packets In Place of Groceries: Cops

CARTERSVILLE, GA — A Walmart employee said two people used the price tag of Kool-Aid packets to lower the price of the groceries they purchased at the big box retailer. A deputy with the Bartow County Sheriff's Office made a visit to the store around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10 and met with an asset protection employee about allegations that a man and woman carried out the scheme.

According to the employee, an unknown male and female "acting in concert" took packets of Kool-Aid, valued at $.24 each, and placed them under items they were "buying," thus scanning the much cheaper item instead of the original product, an incident report from the Bartow County Sheriff's Office notes. The employee said the pair committed the crime on four occasions from Sept. 9 to Oct. 8, depriving the store of about $350 in grocery items.

According to the report, the two subjects on Sept. 9 scanned packets of Kool-Aid about eight times to alter the price of their purchase. The couple paid $115.72 by debit card and received $100 cash back, for a total purchase of $15.72.

On Sept. 29, the pair engaged in the same scenario, paying $165.01 by debit card and receiving $100 cash back for a total purchase of $65.01. The two allegedly returned to the store Oct. 6 and scanned packets of Kool-Aid about seven times, and paid $5.89 with a debit card and $33.30 using an EBT card, for a total purchase of $38.78. Two days later on Oct. 8, the two scanned Kool-Aid packets roughly 14 times and paid $61.69 by debit card and received $60 cash back. The couple also used an EBT card to pay $22.30 during this most recent purchase.

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A screenshot of the subjects was provided, but their identities are unknown. The only physical description provided in the report indicates a white male and white female were behind the alleged crimes. They were also observed getting into a four-door minivan, the make and model of which is unknown, bearing a Georgia license plate.

No other details were provided. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bartow County Sheriff's Office at 770-382-5050.

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