NEW ULM — New Ulm Police are crediting Walmart loss prevention staff for a large number of individuals involved with theft cases in recent months.

Theft reports often center on individuals not scanning all their items are self-scanning checkouts.

The Journal reviewed New Ulm Police logs and Brown County Court records for the past three months and found 26 Walmart theft convictions. Case sentences included $8,563.22 in restitution charges, averaging $329.35 per case.

Brown County Record accounts in The Journal list often list theft convictions with sentences listing restitution amounts of several hundred dollars or more.

Sentence conditions for gross misdemeanor theft convictions include 364 days local confinement, stayed for two years probation.

Probation conditions include no trespassing, no contact with Walmart in New Ulm, completion of an anti-shoplifting course, $185 in fees, fines and surcharges and more than $500 restitution.

A number of convictions include anti-shoplifting course completion. The online shoplifting class is an intervention course for individuals charged with shoplifting, impulse control, or petty theft.

The three-hour class covers critical topics such as victim impact, legal repercussions, types of shoplifters, and behavior-change strategies.

Classes are written in a motivational interview style, drawing from personalized feedback and other evidence-based approaches to help shoplifters change their behavior.

New Ulm Police Commander Dean Barstad praised the work of Walmart store personnel as a big reason local officers are busier with theft cases in recent months.

“I think Walmart loss prevention staff are really aware of theft and do a very good job investigating it. It’s keeping us busier, especially since last spring and summer. Since November, our police have cited 60 people for theft,” said Barstad.

He described how Walmart deals with law enforcement.

“We don’t have face to face confrontations with people. We’re provided a packet of information about suspects. We interview them and write a theft citation if we’re confident a theft occurred. Some cases are referred to the New Ulm City Attorney’s Office for review and potential charges,” Barstad said.

“Theft is a real problem across the retail industry. We’re focused on taking steps to protect our associates, customers and merchandise,” said Walmart Media Relations Corporate Communications Director Kelsey Bohl.

Shoplifting is the number one U.S. property crime with more than $13 billion in merchandise stolen each year, averaging more than $35 million, about 550,000 shoplifting incidents per day.