WALDORF, Md. — A La Plata woman is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly stealing more than $1,500 worth of merchandise from a Target store in Waldorf, according to court documents.
Whitney Lauren Jowett, 35, of La Plata, was arrested April 14, 2026, following an investigation into a reported theft at the Target located on Western Parkway.
According to charging documents, loss prevention officers observed Jowett on surveillance cameras for approximately 30 minutes as she concealed items inside a bag while moving throughout the store. Additional surveillance showed her placing merchandise into a shopping cart before continuing to conceal items as she walked through different aisles.
Investigators allege Jowett attempted to disguise the stolen merchandise by placing a jacket over the items inside her cart and later selected a case of water, which she scanned at a self-checkout register. She then walked past all points of sale without paying for the remaining merchandise.
Authorities recovered approximately $1,537.84 worth of stolen items from her bag and jacket after she was stopped by loss prevention personnel and sheriff’s deputies.
Jowett has been charged with theft between $1,500 and $25,000.
She was released on her own recognizance following her arrest.
A trial is set for June 2, 2026, in Charles County District Court.
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