(La Porte, IN) - A Union Mills woman allegedly fled after caught shoplifting at Rural King but was quickly located and placed into handcuffs.

 

Shannon Vandusen, 46, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine and one other count.  She’s also being held for authorities in St. Joseph County where she’s wanted on several mostly felony warrants.

 

According to court documents, Vandusen on March 22nd went inside a changing room at the store on the city’s west side and began concealing various articles of clothing inside of her coat. She had been in the changing room for a lengthy period of time when the store manager knocked on the door.  Vandusen responded she would be out “in a minute," but was still inside about 20 minutes later when the store manager approached the changing room a second time. 

 

Police said Vandusen stepped out and walked to the center of the store before running out the exit doors and fleeing eastbound on Indiana 2 in what was described as a Cadillac Escalade. Ripped merchandise tags were found behind the mirror inside the changing room along with empty clothes hangers.

 

The suspected getaway vehicle turned southbound on Clay Street before it was stopped in the 400 block of Harrison Street.  Police said Vandusen was wearing a coat that contained various pieces of clothing such as shirts, hats and a scarf. The items were apparently stuffed through a cut in the pocket used to hide the merchandise in the lining of the coat. In addition, she was also wearing a stolen pair of Wrangler jeans.

 

Vandusen was found with less than a gram of methamphetamine at the La Porte County Jail.  Another small amount of the drug was located in the vehicle.