CRIME Walmart shoplifting arrests lead to drug charges

A 28-year-old Brockton woman has been charged with illegal possession of prescription pills following her arrest for shoplifting at Walmart Thursday, May 19, according to Weymouth police.

Police said Elizabeth M. Liuzza, 1005 Belmont St., was charged with possession of clonidine, gabapentin, seroquel and adderall while a booking officer was processing her on shoplifting charges.

“During the inventory portion of the book of Liuzza, multiple pills were discovered in her purse without any valid prescription,” stated a police report. “When asked what the pills were, or if she had a prescription, she said, 'they adderall'.”

Adderall is a drug prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine.

The Library of Medicine states clonidine is prescribed for treating high blood pressure and Tourette syndrome.

Gabapentin is prescribed for patients to control epileptic seizures, according to the Library of Medicine.

All the pills were identified using the pill identifier available on drugs.com

Police also charged Liuzza’s companion, Stephen Curtin, 32, 1005 Belmont St., Brockton, who allegedly exited the Walmart store in possession of two pairs of men’s sleep shorts that he didn't purchase.

A store loss prevention officer reported he had observed Curtin and Liuzza in the process of shoplifting at approximately 8:50 p.m. according to police.

“He said both Liuzza and Curtin had been in the store for a few hours,” police said. “He said he had been watching them in person 90 percent of the time they had been in there and at one point, he went back to view the cameras.”

Police said the loss prevention officer reported seeing Liuzza and Curtin proceed through a self-checkout line without paying for the items they placed in the two bags.

Liuzza was carrying a large leopard print bag containing several tanks tops, bras, underwear and various apparel upon exiting the store, according to police.

“The total value of the merchandise in the bag was $176.65,” police said.

Curtin was carrying two Walmart shopping bags when he exited the store with Liuzza, according to police.

Police said an officer and store loss prevention employee approached Liuzza and Curtin as they the exited Walmart.

“The loss prevention officer reported the leopard print bag Liuzza was carrying was merchandise she had not paid for as everything contained was inside the bag,” police said. “He was also certain that Curtin was wearing several pairs of sleep shorts underneath his regular shorts.”

Police said the loss prevention officer reported finding a pair of worn men’s underwear along with two packages of men’s sleep shorts.

“Each package contained two pairs,” police said. “One pair was accounted for in the fitting room and three were believed to be on Curtin.”

The total value of the three pairs of sleep shorts he allegedly stole was $25.92, according to police.

Police said Curtin denied that he was wearing three pairs of sleep shorts underneath his regular shorts while being questioned.

“Curtin claimed that he puts on multiple pairs of underwear to stay warm,” police said. “I informed Curtin that it would be no problem, we would just match the (serial) numbers on the empty package to the (serial) number on the underwear at which point he broke down in tears admitting that he had taken the sleep shorts.”

Details on Curtin and Liuzza’s arraignment on the charges in Quincy District Court were not yet available.

— Follow Ed Baker on Twitter @EdBakerWeymouth.