Deputies: Woman steals 4 chainsaws from hardware store

Putnam County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Bettie Mitchell

PALATKA, Fla. – A 28-year-old Interlachen woman is accused of stealing four chainsaws from a Lowe's store in Palatka, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said Bettie Mitchell engaged in a three-day shoplifting spree and took four chainsaws worth a total of $1,296.

Recommended Videos



Mitchell is charged with four counts of larceny and two counts of resisting an officer without violence. She is being held in the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $15,004 bond.

Deputies said the loss prevention manager at Lowe's reviewed surveillance tapes at the store and spotted Mitchell leaving with a stolen chainsaw on four different occasions over the three days. The loss prevention manager also recognized Mitchell from previous encounters, deputies said.

The manager contacted the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and an arrest warrant was issued for Mitchell on the theft charges.

On Aug. 8, Mitchell was spotted entering a vacant home on Orange Avenue in East Palatka. Deputy Sean Baccus, assisted by four additional deputies, tried to call Mitchell out of the house, but without success. The deputies finally made entry into the house and ultimately found Mitchell hiding in a closet. She reportedly refused to come out of the closet she was hiding in, and had the additional two charges of resisting an officer without violence lodged against her.