Shoplifter running circles in parking lot halted by stun gun, cops say

The woman ran from authorities twice before being spotted back in The Home Depot parking lot, police said.

A woman who tried to steal a tool set from The Home Depot ran and ran and ran from authorities trying to arrest her, Whitehall Township police said.

Whitehall Township police say a shoplifter ran circles in a Home Depot parking lot before being hit with a stun gun. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) 

At one point, 28-year-old Julia Lockett ran circles in the store parking lot to avoid being caught, but was ultimately hit with a stun gun and arrested, police said.

Lockett, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, is charged with a felony count of retail theft, as well as possession of an instrument of a crime, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. She is being held in Lehigh County Jail in lieu of 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

Township police said Lockett used wire cutters she brought into the MacArthur Road store to cut a security device off a tool set. Lockett didn't take that set, but chose another one, placed it in a cart and walked out without paying for it, according to police.

A store loss prevention employee tried to stop Lockett, but Lockett ran away, police said. An officer saw Lockett nearby, and she ran again, this time into nearby woods, police said.

Lockett was then spotted back at Home Depot, police said. When Lockett saw a township police officer, she began running circles in the parking lot in an attempt to avoid arrest, police said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.