Man charged with stealing from multiple Walmarts

Staff report

GIRARD

A Milwaukee man was arraigned Monday on three felony charges after police say he fought with Liberty Walmart security officers as he fled with items at 12:05 p.m. Friday.

Frank L. Covington, 26, is charged with robbery, possessing criminal tools and receiving stolen property. His bond is $25,000 in Girard Municipal Court. No plea was required since the charges are felonies.

Liberty police said store security observed Covington putting a baby monitor, nursery organizer and baby thermometer into a new backpack, removing a sensor from the monitor with a magnetic key, putting the backpack in a shopping bag and walking past the registers and into the store vestibule.

Upon seeing security officers, he dropped the backpack and tried to run, which is when he reportedly punched one security officer in the face but still was taken to the security office, according to a police report.

Police said they found evidence in his vehicle he had taken items from at least five other Walmart stores. The combined value was about $1,500.