John Jefferson
Background: A Walmart store in Caldwell, Idaho (Google Maps). Inset: Dylan Rockwell (Canyon County Sheriff’s Office).
An Idaho man was nabbed for allegedly stealing merchandise from a local Walmart using a makeshift barcode device that scanned the price of tomato soup.
Police gave him points for his “creativity.”
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Dylan Rockwell, 32, was arrested by Caldwell police on Feb. 3 following reports of a burglary in progress at a nearby Walmart store the day before. According to a statement from the Caldwell Police Department posted on its Instagram page, Caldwell was tracked down at his home, where he reportedly “admitted to wearing a ring with a barcode, specifically for tomato soup, which he wore on his finger and would scan large items” — in this case, allegedly a $300 grill.
The alleged theft was first reported at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2, police said. Going by a description of Rockwell’s vehicle and where it was seen headed, police followed him to his home and found him — and the allegedly stolen grill. He was detained “without incident” and the grill was recovered.
Rockwell told police that he had committed “several thefts from Walmart over a period of time.” It was not immediately clear how many times he had used his barcode-fitted ring, but he had allegedly used it on previous occasions to commit other alleged thefts. Rockwell would wear the ring, which would be scanned at a register, showing up on the receipt as tomato soup instead of the item he was allegedly stealing.
A can of Campbell’s tomato soup was advertised for the price of $1.26 on Walmart’s website at the time this article was written.
Caldwell Chief of Police Rex Ingram said in the statement, “Sorry Mr. Rockwell, your tactics didn’t work this time, but we appreciate your creativity. We know that times are tough, but your ingenuity got you some county soup for dinner.”
Rockwell was booked into the Canyon County Jail on $25,000 bond. He was charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor petit theft. His next court appearance is a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 13.
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