Lee v. State,

474 A.2d 537 (1984)

Facts

In the first case, two security guards employed by Montgomery Ward observed D take one bottle of cologne valued at $14.50 from the display area and conceal it in his pocket and then pick up a hair dryer valued at $16.99 and conceal it under his jacket. Lee exited the store without paying for the merchandise. He was thereafter apprehended and arrested. In the second case, an employee of a pharmacy-liquor store observed D displacing two $16.47 bottles of cognac. D concealed one of the bottles in his pants and held the other in his hand. When approached by the employee, D returned both bottles to the shelf and fled the store. He was chased by the employee who flagged down a passing police cruiser. Subsequently, D was arrested and convicted.