PITTSBURGH — A Duquesne woman is accused of stealing high-end televisions from area Walmart stores, worth more than $5,500.
According to police, Chasity Gervasoni was caught on surveillance cameras walking out of a store in Richland Township with a television set she allegedly did not purchase.
Officers tell Channel 11 that Gervasoni was assisted by Davarian Smith.
”These aren’t the small ones you would have on your counter top. These are large TVs,” said Cranberry Township Police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino.
Channel 11 created a map of the stores police say the couple targeted. The locations include Cranberry Township and Pittsburgh Mills.
”I’m shocked, especially here in Cranberry. I can’t believe they got away with it,” said Hank Minnon, a resident of Cranberry Township.
”Basically, when they would enter the store, they would go to the electronics section and remove the security packaging from the televisions. They would then put them on a cart and roll them right out the exit,” said Sgt. Mascellino.
According to a police report obtained by Channel 11, the woman confessed to stealing the merchandise, saying, “We stole so many televisions from so many Walmarts, I can’t keep track.”
Police tell Channel 11 it was a team effort capturing the alleged thieves.
According to sources, police got a description of the suspect’s vehicle from a Walmart employee. Then police were able to catch the couple on Dec. 26 at the Richland store.
An off-duty police officer was nearby prior to the couple being arrested. They were able to monitor the alleged thieves before officers arrived.
”That’s great that he took time out of his day to do that and catch them,” said Minnon.
Officers tell Channel 11 the couple ended up leaving a cart full of televisions in the store once they saw police arrived.
Just moments after they left, officers conducted a traffic stop and brought the alleged thieves to the station for questioning, where they confessed to the thefts.
As of Wednesday, charges have not been filed against Smith.
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