Confronted by store employee, Kansas City shoplifter pulls ax from purse

Police arrested a 53-year-old ax-wielding shoplifter Monday following an altercation at a Kansas City discount store.

The incident was reported around 2 p.m. at the Dollar General at 73rd Street and Prospect Avenue. Police responded to the store after the manager told them that a woman had just walked through the store stuffing items into a black trash bag.

The woman left without paying. A store worker followed her outside and demanded she return the items. The shoplifter pulled an ax from her purse and blurted, “No.”

She began walking north on Prospect.

When she arrived at a nearby residence, she tried to join several persons mingling in the front yard. One asked her to leave but the shoplifter yelled, “Y’all gonna let me in,” and swung the ax several times in the direction those standing nearby, according to police reports. No one was struck.

A man came outside and ordered the woman to leave. She again headed north on Prospect. A victim recorded the exchange on her cellphone.

Police later arrested the woman without incident when they caught up with her at Gregory Boulevard and Prospect Avenue.

This story was originally published June 10, 2014 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Confronted by store employee, Kansas City shoplifter pulls ax from purse."