A man was arrested after he was caught fleeing from a store, allegedly with a cart full of various items ranging from pop-tarts and ramen noodles to cameras and a computer with an estimated total value of over $2,775. It’s a long list of stuff.

Michael Lee Lentz, 38, was arrested by Officer John Agan of the Linton Police Department. Records show Lentz with a home address of Bloomington at a location that would be west of the city. Lentz was booked in to the Greene County Jail around 1:20 a.m. last Sunday, November 3, following an incident that occurred late Saturday, November 2.

Officer Agan explained that the asset protection manager at the Walmart store in Linton had contacted the police department about recent thefts from the store that involved a silver Honda Civic. He said there were incidents where a man and a woman had filled a shopping cart with various items before pushing the cart out a fire exit without paying for anything. Store associates said the suspects had been driving a silver Honda Civic. He asked officers for extra patrols in the area.

Officer Agan was on duty last Saturday night when officers reported seeing a silver Honda Civil in the front parking lot of the store. They kept the car under surveillance. The driver’s seat was empty but one male passenger was waiting in the car. Officers then reported seeing a man exit the store and get into the car, driving it around the store to the back of the building, parking next to a fire exit.

Officer Agan said officers heard the sound of an alarm coming from the back of the building then saw the Honda Civic fleeing from the parking lot on the east side.

The car headed south on County Road 1000 West toward Baseline Road, but LPD Officer Nick Yingling stopped the vehicle. Lentz was the driver.

The passenger was interviewed but it was determined he stayed in the vehicle and he allegedly said he had nothing to do with stealing anything from the store.

When Lentz was interviewed, he allegedly admitted selecting the items, placing them in a cart and pushing the cart out the fire exit. He said he left some items in the cart because he was in a hurry and was afraid of getting caught. He allegedly said he had the intention of selling the items to make money.

Officer Agan reported officers found the following items in the cart behind the store: