Evan Schuman's StorefrontBacktalk

Is there no more civility left in the world? Can’t a shoplifter steal a simple computer from a Wal-Mart without some repo man grabbing his getaway car? It’s getting so a guy can’t even make a dishonest living anymore. At least that’s how it seems to be in one California neighborhood.

The tale unfolds from a Wal-Mart in Glendora, where police said that Cloyd Plumonef was trying to steal a computer. The scam involved an unidentified accomplice of Plumonef, who walked into the Wal-Mart and purchased an e-Machines computer with cash. He then left the store and gave Plumonef the receipt. Plumonef went back into the store, picked up a second e-Machines computer and walked out, clutching the receipt as “proof” that the computer had been purchased. One employee got suspicious and alerted security. That’s where things get interesting.

We pick up this story with some comments Glendora Police Lt. Brian Summers shared with The San Gabriel Valley Tribune. “When [Plumonef] goes out to the parking lot, he can’t find his car. There’s this long delay. Then he returns to the store with his stolen merchandise and reports his car was stolen.” Police arrived at Wal-Mart, but Plumonef thought they were there to help find his believed-to-be-stolen getaway car. In actuality, they were investigating the shoplifting charge.

Added Summers: “It turns out the repo guy had been following him and when he left the car to go get the computer, they took [the car]. We put two and two together, and now he’s in custody for burglary.”

Maybe his plan was to sell the computers to get money to make his car payment? Tip for his next shoplifting trip: Leave your accomplice in the car. If you’re relying on the police to find your getaway car, you’re probably in the wrong line of work.