Updated Info–Walmart’s Bolt Cutter Bandit-He Called the Cops Himself
June 15th, 2009 by Joe Burgess
Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober has released the attached press release detailing information leading to the arrest of the “Bolt Cutter Bandit”, the man who got out of jail Tuesday, and then was arrested Thursday for cutting the chain link fence to the Walmart garden center (Wednesday night).
Apparently the man called the Sheriff’s Dept., to return a “stolen laptop”, but actually gave them a “different stolen laptop.”
Other stolen items were also recovered.
On June 11 at approximately 1:00 pm, Drew County investigators arrested Jimmy Lee Birchfield, age 40 of Monticello, for the Walmart theft reported on June 10. Birchfield was previously arrested on June 9 for residential burglary of a residence located on Highway 83 North. During that residential burglary, a laptop computer was taken along with several other items. Birchfield bonded on Tuesday, June 9th.
On Thursday, Birchfield contacted Drew County Sheriff’s Department from Highway 83 North. Sheriff Gober sent the investigator to meet Birchfield and get the laptop, as this sounded very suspicious. When investigators had the laptop, files stored on the laptop were checked. There was a data folder labeled “WalMart” stored on the computer. WalMart was contacted and a representative did say that they had a video of a subject that had taken several items and had even attempted to steal a LCD television by placing it near a fence in the garden section. It was learned that as the subject was attempting to cut the fence, a WalMart employee frightened the subject, later identified as Birchfield. Birchfield then fled from WalMart. A WalMart representative reported the following morning that a laptop and several other items had been stolen from the store the previous night. The serial number was checked on the laptop and it was indeed found to be the property of WalMart.
Birchfield was arrested and a search warrant was obtained for the motel room where he was staying. Investigators retrieved from the room a camera that had also been stolen. The investigation still continues for the other missing items: a Sony Playstation 2, an XM radio, a Vivitar camera, and a Koday Easyshare digital camera.
Birchfieldremains in the Drew County Detention Facility charged with theft of property and shoplifting. Bond has been set at $20,000.
Any information regarding these stolen items should be reported to the Drew County Sheriff’s Department.
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Posted June 12, 2009
Walmart’s “Bolt Cutter Bandit” Arrested, (He Got Out of Jail Tuesday)
On June 7, 2009, a report was made to Drew County Sheriff’s Department about several items missing from a residence located at Highway 83 North. Items taken were a Dell laptop computer, a camcorder, and two gold necklaces.
According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, investigators received information of a possible suspects during the interview process on June 9, Jimmy Lee Birchfield, age 40 of Monticello, was arrested. He was charged with residential burglary and theft of property and was placed in the Drew County Detention Facility. Bond was set at $2,500. Birchfield bonded on the same day.
Then Thursday morning, following the report of the Walmart garden center fence being cut in an attempt to remove a television, the investiagation pointed Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. staff again to Birchfield.
Birchfieldwas re-arrested Thursday afternoon, charged with theft of property over $2,500.
A laptop computer was also allegedly invlolved in the Walmart incident.
Birchfield is set to have his bond hearing Friday.
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Posted June 11, 2009
Not Your Average Shoplifter
A man attempted to steal a television from Monticello’s Walmart last night, around 9:30, by hiding it in the garden center of the store, and trying to cut the chain link fence around the area.
The white male suspect, (approximately 40 years old) was wearing a green winter jacket, buttoned all the way up.
Now the jacket was not used to conceal the TV, but possibly a pair of bolt cutters, which the man used to attempt to cut the chain link fence at the back of the garden center portion of the store, where a TV (valued at  approximately $600 had been hidden).
When a member of management walked up to the man, he fled the scene, before police arrived.
If anyone remembers seeing this subject leaving the Walmart area, please contact the Monticello Police Dept.
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haha thats funny….ppl will do ne thing now a day
lol that’s hilarious but,..how did he get the T.V from the electronics to the garden center? And they should be able to look on the cameras for a man wearing a green coat. And I know times are hard but my goodness.
Now that’s a good one!!! I needed a good laugh today!! What some people will do these days!! I hope they catch this man.. maybe it’son the security cameras in that area!!
They need to look at the man who stole the laptop from them the same night
This is NOT funny!!! I would guess those that find it funny never worked in retail and KNOWS how many times this type of situation happens.
It surely wouldn’t be funny to you if it was YOUR tv he was trying to steal!!!
Think before writing….this type of thing should not be taken lightly or encouraged. And then you are wondering why prices are higher (other than the HIGHER gas prices)!!!
Tony
In the south we call this a joke.
everyone have a great weekend.
Laugh,live and love.
I agree with Tony that is not funny or right an it hasnt even happened 2 me!!!
Wonder how he kept getting out of jail.
db, I agree, we all got a good laugh out of it, there is no need in getting worked up over it, he’s in jail. Retailers should watch their customers better. It’s going to happen whether or not we’re on here laughing about it, so you might as well find some humor in it. And that’s not the main reason prices are higher and we all know it. Don’t blame the economy on shoplifters.
i agree with db and k.c
Stopid is as stupid does
Well, db and kc, why don’t you give your address so this criminal that keeps getting out of jail can visit your home and take whatever he wants!!
Then let’s see how funny it really is….of course it isn’t the cause of the economy. I NEVER stated that. But anyone with any type of even limited knowledge would HAVE to agree that increased shoplifting (which happens in a bad economy) only enhances the price increases. Of course, I’m sure you already know that since you are SO WELL INFORMED.
The very fact that you state “retailers should watch their customers better” just shows how little you really know. Perhaps you should get a job and try to “watch better” 35000 customer transactions per week!!! That doesn’t include the ones without paying….so kc, please enlighten the entire retail world how to do what you suggested. You are most likely one of the very people that “gets offended” when a sales clerk gets too close to you or asks if you need help.
If you don’t know what you are talking about then don’t pretend…it just shows through your statements and the very fact that you find STEALING funny.
Tony
Come on people-it is funny!!! I realize that what he did or intended to do was not acceptable but there is no reason getting so angry over finding humor in everyday life. I agree with k.c. that these people are going to do this no matter what we do. There is absolutely nothing wrong with laughing at the humor in life. Our economy is in a sad shape and I find it extremely hard to believe that shoplifters are the root of all evil. I do realize that in retail, shoplifters pose a serious problem, however we all need to lighten up and find some humor in the stupidity of some people.
It’s so stupid it’s funny
While this does make the top of the world’s dumbest crimminal list it’s sad someone like this can slip the system and keep doing stupid things that end up costing the law abiding tax payer
Proud Mother, I agree with you as well,” Our economy is in a sad shape and I find it extremely hard to believe that shoplifters are the root of all evil” It’s not like we were laughing at someone giving drugs to a baby or something, now grow up and stop getting so worked up over something so silly my goodness, he will pay for what he did maybe we were laughing becaus he got caught.
Oh and Tony, I’ll glady give him my adress, because I dare someone to try and rob my house. I will defend myself and my house anyway I can. Has anyone ever stopped to think about this man and how desperate he must have been to actually think to bring the t.v into the garden section and cut the wire fence with a bolt cutter? Nothing can justify shoplifting but maybe just maybe he felt like he no other way to support his family than to steal something he could sell? maybe not, but maybe, just maybe he was hurting a little more than any of us could ever have imagined.
The Christain thing to do would be to pray for him.Jesus loves him as much as He loves you. Atfer all “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
That made my day.lol.
Yeah but real funny is they work with you on getting your stuff to you and call you and tell you they know where your stuff is but it never seems to make it back to but when he goes to walmart to steal a computer to replace mine he tells the police and they call me and ask if i want it is what really kills me but now that he has stolen from walmart they have a bigger case now so i never hear back from on anything of mine and when you call them to find out whats going on and they dont return your call is what really gets to me and whats really bad is the person in jail has told them where my stuff is and who it was sold to and they call them and they promise over the ph they dont have it and they just believe it so you just kinda what is the deal but i do have all names of all the ppl it was pasted to and it may make its way back one day only god knows…Glad to see this has made peoples day but if it was you it would not be so funny…
MLive contacted the sheriff’s office about this comment. Some items were recovered, and those items have been returned to the rightful owner.
There are some items that the suspect “can’t remember” who he gave the items to, that haven’t been recovered, therefore haven’t been able to be returned.
Althought we simpathize with the loss of your property, most readers were “impressed” by the creativity of the fellows efforts.