Kmart and Walmart stores have been hit hard by alleged shoplifters this holiday season.

Jennifer Laherren, 33, of Modesto, was cited and released after allegedly placing new shoes on her child inside the Walmart store on Thursday afternoon and not paying for them.

Store security personnel said the woman also took several children's clothing items to the self checkout, pretended to scan items and mixing them with garments she did ring up.

Police cited her at 3:31 p.m.

Suede gloves and shoes concealed in the purse of Mary Lisa Constancio, 51, of Modesto, inside the Ceres Kmart store were intended for her granddaughter's birthday gift. They landed her in county jail instead.
Constancio was arrested at 9:01 p.m. on Dec. 11.

Thomas Bettencourt, 35, of Modesto, was cited and released on Saturday at 7 p.m. after he concealed a blue tooth speaker and bike tire pump in his jacket before walking out of Kmart through the garden department. Store security called police with his description. Moments later officers spotted Bettencourt at Hatch Road and Herndon Avenue and detained him. Police found the goods and returned them to the store and issued a citation for Bettencourt to appear in court. The items amounted to $52.96.

At 7:42 p.m. on Saturday, Walmart store personnel watched Jeremy Wayne Lofton, 38, of Ceres, conceal a Gerber flint starter and flexible LED light worth $27 and try to get out of the store without paying for them. He was cited and released.

At 11:40 a.m. the next day, police were back at Kmart to deal with Brittany Stout, 23, of Livermore, who all was cited and released for allegedly stealing facial beauty products, toiletries, a battery charger and clothing totaling $174.

Then at 10:29 p.m. on Sunday, Walmart store security called police to report that Empire couple Colline Araza, 36, and Pedro Araza, 35, didn't ring up clothing at the self check aisle out worth $147.