According to a Linton police officer, a Jasonville man, arrested last week for shoplifting from a Linton store, has been convicted of theft in four previous cases in Greene County.

Aaron Charles Gardner, 33, Jasonville, was arrested by Officer Janzen Franklin of the Linton Police Department last Wednesday, March 10.

Just before 7 p.m. last Wednesday, Officer Franklin was dispatched to the Walmart store in Linton where one of the store’s Asset Protection Associates (APA) had stopped Gardner for shoplifting.

The APA said he was watching when Gardner selected several items throughout the store then switched price tags, putting price tags from less expensive items onto more expensive items. Gardner then went through a checkout where he scanned barcodes and “skip scanned” some items. He then allegedly started to leave without making payment for his items. The APA said this is a common practice used to fraudulently obtain merchandise at a discounted price.

During questioning, Gardner asked for an attorney and was then taken into custody.

Officer Franklin reported that video surveillance footage of the incident confirmed the APA’s account. The total value of items allegedly stolen from Walmart was $106.03.

According to Officer Franklin, Gardner was convicted of theft in four previous cases in Greene County.

Gardner was booked into the Greene County Jail at 9:39 p.m. with bond set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. He has since posted bond and been released from jail.

Gardner is facing a preliminary charge of theft with a prior conviction for theft, a Level 6 felony.