IFN Staff

Two individuals face criminal charges in connection with a scheme to steal merchandise from the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Troutman.

The Troutman Police Department announced the arrests of Robert Sloop, 25, of Troutman and Kaitlyn Gardner, 32, of Mooresville on social media on Wednesday.

TPD officers responded to a reported larceny at the Lowe’s store about 12:55 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the news release.

Investigating officers determined that Sloop and Gardner had taken items to the self-checkout and scanned an individual item of lesser value before exiting the store with more expensive, unscanned merchandise, according to the news release.

Also, during the investigation, Gardner presented another person’s identification card as her own and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, police said. She was charged with identity theft, obtaining property by false pretense, larceny, and possession of methamphetamine.

Sloop was charged with felony conspiracy and obtaining property by false pretense.

Both subjects were taken before a magistrate, who ordered them held without bond because they were free on bond on earlier charges at the time of their arrests.