A man and woman were arrested Nov. 24 for reportedly stealing more than $4,000 in electronics merchandise from the Eagle River Walmart.

Following the arrest, one of the two suspects also was charged with misconduct involving a controlled drug, Oxycodone.

Joseph Sonnier, 29, of Chugiak, reportedly walked out of the store with the merchandise and drove the getaway car while Serena Calkins, also of Chugiak, distracted store security to allow Sonnier to get away.

"The store security reported they had video and still images of the suspects stealing several items and then running from the store to make their escape," Anchorage Police Department Spokesman Lt. David Parker said.

Video revealed that on Nov. 23, the pair entered the store and rolled a shopping cart to the electronics department, where they proceeded to load it with multiple items, including a laptop computer and home stereo equipment, according to the police report. The couple then wheeled the cart to the front door where Sonnier exited with the cart full of merchandise.

Security personnel stopped and questioned Calkins before she exited and she claimed to have a receipt for the items in her purse.

"After rummaging in her purse for several minutes, she pushed the store personnel away and ran out the door," Parker said. "In the meantime, Sonnier had loaded the items into their truck and drove to the front of the store to pick her up."

The couple fled the parking lot, but not before Walmart security was able to record the license plate of the getaway vehicle.

"Our staff did just as they were trained," said Austin Zimiga, manager of the store. "When they stopped the female suspect they were not aggressive with her, and when she ran they were quick to write down the plate number of the truck they drove off in.

"We train our staff to provide customer service, not to chase and apprehend criminals," Zimiga continued. "We let APD handle the law-enforcement work, and they did a wonderful job this time."

Armed with the security tape and the license plate number of the getaway car, APD tracked Sonnier down to his Chugiak residence on Nov. 24, where he was arrested and charged with theft in the second degree, or stealing items valued between $500 and $25,000.

Calkins also was arrested at Sonnier's residence and charged with theft in the second degree for her role in the crime. She is also facing charges of misconduct involving a controlled substance after police discovered a baggie full of narcotics in her pocket when performing a search after taking her into custody.

"She had several Oxycodone pills in her pocket," Parker said. "And she admitted that she didn't have a prescription for them."

The couple was arraigned at the Anchorage Jail and the judge set their bail at $3,000 each. This is Sonnier's first arrest. Calkins has two previous misdemeanor arrests for leaving the scene of an accident and reckless endangerment.

Second-degree theft is a Class C felony and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Zimiga reports that all the items stolen from the store were seized by police at the time of the arrest and returned to the store.

Such a brazen theft is uncommon at Walmart, which deals with shoplifters on a regular basis.

"I can't remember ever having someone load a cart with merchandise and then march right through the front door," Zimiga said. "We normally only deal with people trying to steal makeup and other items that they can stuff into a purse or their pocket. This was a bold act."

Reach the reporter at darrell.breese.@alaskastar.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, December 3, 2009.