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Tampa Police Charge Woman With Shoplifting

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

Updated: 09/03/2008 11:03 am

  Tripti Patil

TAMPA - Tripti Patil took a trip to Nordstrom at the International Mall Tuesday and found some panties, bras, workout pants, workout tops, a waist shaper and other clothes she liked. A total of $1,271.99 worth of merchandise, police say.

But instead of checking out with a cashier, Patil, 25, stuffed the merchandise into a backpack. Then she walked around the store taking more items and walked out about 8 p.m. without paying, according to a police report, which offers the following details.

She was seen going into a dressing room with items and coming out with nothing. She was observed placing clothing in her backpack by video surveillance.

When she walked out of the store, she was confronted by security personnel, who said they "wanted the stuff back."

She knew exactly what they wanted and returned the clothing.

Then Patil, of 4405 Golfwood Blvd., Tampa, was arrested.

After being read her rights, Patil told police she intended to pay for everything, but once she noticed the prices, she decided to steal the items instead.

Patil – identified by her Indian driver's license and listed in jail records as a software engineer – was charged with grand theft. She is being held at the Orient Road Jail in lieu of $2,000 bond.

Police say they contacted the Indian consulate because Patil is an Indian national in this country on a work visa.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com

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