Man arrested for meth possession, allegedly tampering with bar codes
Claire Kowalick, Wichita Falls Times Record
Abbott (Photo: Contributed photo)
A Wichita Falls man was arrested Sunday for methamphetamine possession and allegedly tampering with bar codes at a local Walmart.
Robert Lee Abbott, 41, was arrested for possession of a drug in penalty group 1 and theft less than $2,500.
According to Wichita Falls Police Department Public Relations Officer Brian Masterson, shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to the Walmart in the 3100 block of Lawrence Road in reference to a possible theft.
Officers spoke with loss-prevention officers at the business who said Abbott was observed on security camera footage as he allegedly removed UPC bar codes from three items and replaced them with different, lesser value, bar codes.
Abbott allegedly paid for the tampered items ? half a spiral ham, an angle grinder and a snack cake ? then passed all points of sale.
A loss-prevention officer stopped Abbott and the officer then called police.
The total value of the items Abbott is accused of attempting to steal is $51.24 and the tampered bar codes caused the purchase to ring up at $2.94 ? a difference of $48.30.
WFPD say records show Abbott has three previous theft convictions.
After he was arrested, Abbott was searched by police and they found in his left, front shirt pocket a black tool pouch that contained a clear plastic bag with a crystal-like substance.
The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Abbott was taken to the Wichita County Jail where he remained as of Monday afternoon.
Claire Kowalick, a senior journalist for the Times Record News, covers local government, military and MSU Texas. If you have a news tip, contact Claire at
ckowalick@gannett.com.
high on meth, no angle grinder, no ham, no snack cakes, what do you do?
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