Woman arrested for allegedly stealing and selling Similac Formula items

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 6, 2025, a store owner contacted the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report that a female individual allegedly stole several Similac Formula containers from their store.

The suspect was later apprehended and charged with Count 1: Stealing, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than seven years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or an amount equal to twice the amount of gain from the commission of the crime up to a maximum of $20,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Feb. 6th, at around 6:38 a.m., Ms. Pepe Talo (later identified as the suspect) stole 13 containers of Similac milk powder — worth $27.99 each for a total estimated value of $363. 87 — from a store in Le Loaloa and later sold them.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene around 8:17 a.m., and upon arrival, they observed a lady standing in front of the store’s parking lot. The lady identified herself as the store manager. She then directed the officers inside the store where the incident occurred.

Police officers interviewed one of the store’s clerks who gave a detailed account on what had happened. According to the clerk, at around 6:00 a.m., a lady in a blue shirt entered the store with a black duffle bag inside her shopping cart. The clerk said that alone raised their suspicions about the lady’s intentions.

They cautiously observed the suspect as she roamed around the store gathering items off the shelves.

The suspect approached the register and started unloading groceries that were inside her cart while placing the black duffle bag behind the counter. After the suspect purchased the items in her cart, she then grabbed her duffel bag that was behind the counter and placed it in her shopping cart.

The cashier walked over to her and asked her about the bag and the suspect replied that the items inside her bag were bought from another store.

The clerk continued that the employees instructed the suspect to open her bag to which the suspect did revealing multiple Similac Powder cans. The suspect denied that the Similac formula was from the store and proceeded to leave.

Shortly after the suspect left, the employees checked the store surveillance footage and confirmed that the Similac formulas were in fact stolen.

The store manager provided the authorities with a drive that contained a copy of the surveillance footage. The cashier was also questioned where he gave similar details of what the clerk had stated. Moreover, the employees also stated that the only information they have of the suspect was her name, her occupation and her place of residence.

Upon arrival at the station, the officers reviewed the surveillance footage and examined all four angles of the suspect’s demeanor and were able to confirm the allegations against the suspect.

The officers then proceeded towards StarKist where the suspect was said to work, and they were able to confirm that the suspect was currently working.

The suspect was then apprehended and transported to the FPS for processing.

The suspect was Mirandized, however chose to waive her rights and admitted to stealing and selling the Similac products.

The suspect was booked and confined to await the next available sitting of the District Court.