Murfreesboro, TN - An investigation is underway into a local theft case that added up to more than $7,500. Detectives are now in the process of identifying three persons of interest in the case that includes two men and one woman (Listen to the WGNS Newscast of this story above - The audio is only 1-min and 54-sec in length).

According to Murfreesboro Police, unknown individuals entered an area Walmart store armed with a debit card they were apparently itching to spend. After picking out the targeted goods, which in this situation happened to be gift cards, the subjects headed to a register to begin the check-out process.

Even though the debit card they were using lacked an electronic strip on the back, the trusting Walmart clerk worked diligently to make sure the transaction was a positive experience. As a result of the clerks hard work, the purchase of 28-gift cards for $200 each was approved. The friendly faced customers even received a whopping $1,400 cash back before leaving, with their receipt in hand. Police told WGNS News on Wednesday, the trio also purchased $540 in food and clothing items from Walmart.

On March 31st - the day of the theft, the three got-away with goods and cash totaling $7,540. Again, using a debit card that lacked the customary magnetic strip on the back of the card, which is often referred to as the magnetic stripe or the mag-stripe. When the cashier didn't know how to use a card without that small strip on the rear, one of the three alleged thieves instructed the worker on what steps to take to make the transaction go through, according to the MPD. As a result, the card was ran through the Walmart checkout system as a payment.

CAN YOU HELP POLICE? Police ask If you can identify these three people, to please contact MPD Detective Jessica Rice at 629-201-5550 or email her at 0933@murfreesborotn.gov. WGNS posted photos of the subjects that were captured on an in-store surveillance system on Wednesday evening. The photos were released by authorities and can be viewed above this article.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

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