Teens arrested for shoplifting holiday presents

Two teens arrested for shoplifting on two separate incidents on the day before Christmas claimed they were trying to steal presents for their family members at two Rochester Hills stores.

Sheriff's deputies responding about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, to Wal-Mart, 2500 S. Adams Road, spoke with a 17-year-old Troy teen allegedly caught by a loss prevention employee while stealing a butane torch lighter. The teen allegedly told a deputy he concealed the lighter while in the men's room at the store, and was planning to give it to his mother as a Christmas present.

The lighter was valued at $28.59.

The teen was arrested in connection with retail fraud and released with a citation.

Deputies responded about 5 p.m. on Sunday to the report of a shoplifter at Meijer, 3175 S. Rochester Road. A deputy said a loss prevention employee at that store observed a shopper put a Pocket Juice battery pack into a bag he was carrying, the attempt to leave without paying.

The shopper, identified as a 18-year-old Rochester Hills resident, was stopped by the employee, at which point it was discovered the teen was also concealing a scented candle.

The teen told a deputy the items, which were valued at $57.98, were intended to be used as Christmas gifts. The teen was arrested in connection with retail fraud and released with a citation.