Michelle Lynn Dickens, 34, of Watkinsville was arrested at the Georgia Square mall Tuesday afternoon when she was caught trying to steal from the Belk department store 32 items of clothing with a total value of $1,141, Athens-Clarke County police said.
A Belk loss-prevention officer called police to report a shoplifting in progress, and upon responding some officers waited at Belk exits while another officer went to the loss prevention office where he watched a surveillance camera monitor as Dickens concealed clothing in Belk bags she was carrying, according to police.
Dickens was arrested as she attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise, police said.