Three-Hour Walmart Surveillance Ends in Theft and Felony Drug Arrest for Bedford Woman

A Bedford woman with a history of theft convictions is back behind bars after Walmart asset protection associates tracked her through the store for three hours, ultimately uncovering a cache of stolen merchandise and various controlled substances.

Talia N. Blake, 44, of Bedford, was taken into custody Tuesday morning by the Bedford Police Department on multiple preliminary felony and misdemeanor charges.

The Three-Hour Surveillance

According to the official probable cause affidavit filed by Bedford Police Officer Zakry E. Brooking, the incident began on June 16, 2026, at approximately 10:27 AM. Officer Brooking was dispatched to the Walmart located at 3200 John Williams Boulevard following a report of a theft in progress.

Upon arriving at the retail center, Officer Brooking went to the asset protection office, where he found Walmart security staff alongside Blake. Asset protection associates reported that they had been closely observing Blake's movements inside the store for approximately three hours. During that time, she was seen grabbing various items and placing some of them back in random spots throughout the aisles.

Security personnel ultimately intercepted Blake before she could exit the storefront after witnessing her "skip scan" an item at the register. When asset protection staff initially questioned her about whether she had unpaid merchandise in her bag, Blake allegedly responded by asking if they wanted "opened or unopened items". She then pulled a can of WD-40 and several unopened cosmetic products out of her bag.

The Key Ring Discovery

Walmart personnel informed police they wished to press full criminal charges for the theft and requested that Blake be formally trespassed from the property. Blake signed a Trespass Notification form, legally barring her from returning to the store under penalty of law.

As Officer Brooking took Blake into custody, he requested her bag to conduct a search incident to arrest. Court documents note that Blake attempted to quickly pull her keys out of the bag, but was instructed by the officer to leave them inside.

The reason for the quick movement became clear during the search. Attached to the keychain Blake had tried to remove, Officer Brooking discovered a small yellow tin container. A search of the container's interior revealed a significant assortment of contraband:

Methamphetamine: A clear plastic bag containing a white crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Schedule 3 Narcotics: Two round orange pills identified as buprenorphine and naloxone.
Schedule 4 Narcotics: Four round orange pills identified as clonazepam.
Unidentified Pills: Two white rectangular pills and a partial round white pill.

Deep inside the bag, officers also located a pink plastic tube containing a crystal-like residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, alongside the remaining stolen Walmart merchandise.

Prior Convictions Escalate Charges

Store employees compiled an itemized receipt of the recovered merchandise, which totaled $147.18 before taxes ($157.48 after taxes). All items were successfully returned to the store.

A subsequent review of state court records via MyCase revealed that Blake has several prior convictions for theft. Under Indiana law, these prior offenses automatically elevate a standard shoplifting charge to a higher level.

Blake was transported to the Lawrence County Jail for housing on preliminary charges of: