Fake Walmart employee strikes again in Columbia County, stealing 19 iPhones

EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A fake Walmart employee has struck for a third time, again stealing Apple products, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

The agency said Monday morning that at 12:43 p.m. April 7, he entered a local Walmart, put a Walmart vest on, and removed 19 iPhones from the electronics department.

The unknown suspect reportedly concealed the stolen iPhones in a blue bag and left through the fire exit located in the back of the store, according to authorities. Video surveillance shows the suspect walking across the parking lot toward Washington Road and the Chimney Hill subdivision.

After this latest incident, deputies released a new photo of him and a car that may be associated with him.

Deputies believe this man poses as a Walmart employee to steal products from the retail giant.... — Deputies believe this man poses as a Walmart employee to steal products from the retail giant. Also show is a car that may be associated with him.(WRDW)

This is the third incident involving this suspect, the agency said.

On March 19, the suspect reportedly entered the same Walmart, walked straight to the electronics department and removed “a large quantity” of Nintendo Switch games, according to an incident report by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect reportedly used a barrel key to open the game products cabinet.

He placed the games in a cardboard box and exited the store without paying at 6:34 p.m., the report states. The suspect was then picked up just outside the store by a white, two-door Nissan Altima that had a black or glass roof, black rims and a noticeable black decal on the side skirt of the vehicle.

Earlier, we reported the suspect disguised himself as a Walmart employee on Feb. 23 and stole nearly $3,000 worth of AirPods from the retail giant’s Evans supercenter.

Deputies said he entered the Walmart at 4469 Washington Road wearing an employee vest.

He then went to the electronics section, where he used a barrel key to open the Apple products cabinet.

He took 15 sets of Apple AirPods valued at over $2,815.00, then left the store without paying.

An incident report by the Sheriff’s Office describes the suspect as a white male with dark hair, possibly in his 20s or 30s. Anyone with any information on this case is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (706)541-4066.