Changing your appearance only works as a disguise if nobody recognizes you anyway, something Tulsa Police say did not work out particularly well for 28-year-old Alexandra Byrd. Officers arrested Byrd on September 15 after employees at a Scheels store recognized her from previously reported thefts, some of which police say involved her wearing a wig.
Police responded to the store near 71st Street and Memorial Drive after receiving a call about a suspect being detained by the retailer’s asset protection staff. Employees told officers they found hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise tucked inside Byrd’s bag.
The merchandise included Nike athletic clothing, multiple Bluetooth speakers, and other accessories, according to police. More interestingly, officers say they also found the same wig Byrd had worn during previous reported thefts inside the bag.
Tulsa Police say Byrd admitted to the September 15 theft as well as previous thefts of which she had been accused. She was ultimately taken to the Tulsa County Jail on charges of organized retail crime and larceny from a retailer.
Store Employees Recognize Woman
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Police say Scheels employees already knew who they were dealing with when Byrd was detained, recognizing her from previous incidents at the retailer. Some of those appearances included a wig, which apparently wasn’t enough to prevent employees from remembering her.
Officers say the same wig was recovered from Byrd’s bag, along with the merchandise, on September 15. Police did not specify how many previous thefts Byrd is accused of committing or provide details about the value of merchandise involved in those incidents.
We also checked the Tulsa County Jail’s online inmate records for additional information concerning Byrd’s booking but were unable to locate a matching record at the time of writing. Tulsa Police nevertheless state that Byrd was booked into the jail following her arrest, and the department emphasized that an arrest does not constitute a conviction.
Commenters Focus on Consequences
While many of the responses beneath the department’s post focused on Byrd personally, others focused on the accusations and what should happen next. One commenter argued that simply placing her on probation would not be enough to prevent future thefts.
Another expressed concern for retailers and argued that repeat theft should result in jail time, writing that otherwise Byrd would “never stop stealing.” That commenter questioned how fair it would be to the businesses affected for repeated theft.
Others took a considerably more sympathetic approach while still acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. One person said they hoped Byrd would eventually look back on the arrest differently and “change her ways,” while another who appeared to know her wrote, “I hope you find your way, baby girl.”