A Tulsa couple is facing felony charges after police say they used a baby carrier to steal dozens of packs of Pokémon trading cards from a Target store.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, officers responded around 6:54 p.m. on August 5 to the Target near 101st Street and Memorial Drive after receiving a report of a shoplifting in progress.
Store employees told officers that 34-year-old Jowan Rinehart, whom they recognized as a repeat offender, had left the store with 94 packs of Pokémon cards valued at approximately $470.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video, which allegedly showed Jowan Rinehart and his accomplice, Janette Rinehart, entering the store with their baby. Police say the couple stopped in one of the aisles, where Jowan began placing the Pokémon card packs into the baby’s carrier while Janette acted as a lookout.
According to police, the couple then stopped near the checkout lanes to pick up plastic shopping bags before leaving the store without paying for the merchandise.
When officers arrived, they found the couple still sitting in their vehicle in the Target parking lot. Police reported that packs of Pokémon cards were scattered across the dashboard.
Jowan Rinehart and Janette Rinehart were arrested and booked into the Tulsa County Jail on complaints of Organized Retail Crime and Larceny from a Retailer. Their baby was released to the care of a friend.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and both suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
