Woman Threatens Cops With her Dog After Stealing from Walmart

Around 11:35 PM on December 30, 2024, Officer Shane Kluxen with the Mount Laurel Police Department responded to a report of a possible shoplifting in progress involving a female at the Walmart on 934 South Route 73. He walked over to the loss prevention office and watched the live camera screens with the loss prevention employee. The woman was observed concealing candles up her sleeve and attempting to leave the store without paying for them. Since she had passed all points of sale without attempting to pay for the candle, the officers apprehended her at the front entrance as she attempted to leave.

The woman was identified as Shannon Ricca, and she would later admit that this was not the first time she had shoplifted. She was accompanied by a dog, and both her and her dog were escorted to the loss prevention office. Inside the loss prevention office, Shannon threatened the other officers to have her dog attack them, but the Officer Todd Cremer quickly deescalated the matter.

After Shannon was placed in handcuffs, she was escorted to the patrol car and transported to the Mount Laurel Police Department for further processing. Her dog was also transported to the station by Officer Cremer in a separate vehicle. She was charged with shoplifting under 2C:20-11B(1) and criminal mischief under 2C:17-3A(1). Court records indicate that as of February 25, 2025, she currently has an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court. Shannon was previously charged for allegedly for shoplifting in Burlington, New Jersey on February 17, 2017, and she still has an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court and answer for that charge as well.

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