Two women allegedly caught leaving a store with almost $400 worth of items stashed in their purses and a backpack are facing theft charges.

Theft charges have been filed against two women, Phyllis W. Porter, 62, and Amanda Kay Porter, 38, after a shoplifting incident that occurred in the Walmart store in Linton on Wednesday, September 29.

A loss prevention associate from the store notified the Linton Police Department around 7 p.m. that Wednesday that they had stopped the two women leaving the store with numerous items stuffed inside their purses and a backpack. All officers were working other calls at that time so the employee took the information to the police department to make the report.

LPD Officer Caleb Walker, the investigating officer, reviewed the information provided which included a statement by the employee explaining he had watched the two women selecting jewelry and other items throughout the store. He said they concealed the items inside their purses and a tie-dye backpack from the store. The two then proceeded to a self-checkout where they “skip-scanned” the backpack without taking the items in the backpack or from their purses out to be scanned.

According to the employee, after failing to make payment for multiple items, the two were leaving through the grocery-side doors when they were stopped by two employees. The employee said the women admitted their actions and provided their names.

The total value of the merchandise recovered was $397.12, which included 14 packages of costume jewelry, three packages of hair scrunchies, one telescoping fly swatter, one package of hair clips and hair ties, reflective tape, one identification holder, one Copper Fit elbow sleeve, one Copper Fit wrist sleeve, one back brace, one Oster dog grooming kit, one watch, one dog harness, four books, one box of Smarty Cat, one case of Yoohoo, one bottle of dog tooth wipes, one bottle of dog ear drops, one bottle of pain relief cream, one plush cat, two flashlights, one bottle of Cinnadust, one pair of shorts, four wraps, one sweater, two tank tops, one tee shirt, one white tank top, one black tank top, one pink tank top, one pair of camo shorts, one camo tee shirt, and the backpack.

Officer Walker attempted to contact Amanda Porter via the telephone number she provided on three different days without success. His calls were sent to voicemail which said it was full and not taking any messages.

Criminal charges were filed against both women this week and they are being summoned to appear in court for initial hearings in early December.

They are both facing a charge of theft, a Class A misdemeanor.

Court records show Phyllis Porter with a home address in Bloomington and Amanda Porter with a home address in Martinsville. Those addresses may or may not still be current.