Two women were charged with theft within a few hours of each other at Wal-Mart on Monday.

Officer Ed Mercier of the Bangor Police Department responded to a call from Wal-Mart loss prevention Monday evening. Upon arrival, Mercier met with Chad Bowley of loss prevention, who said he observed Janice Downing, 26, of Corinth putting several items into Wal-Mart shopping bags before she went to the checkout line.

According to Bowley, Downing then paid for several items at the register, but not the items in the Wal-Mart shopping bags.

Bowley watched as Downing left the store, then approached her about the allegedly stolen items. The items had a total value of $198.63.

According to reports, Downing admitted to stealing the items and apologized to Bowley. Mercier issued Downing a summons for theft.

A few hours later, Mercier again responded to a call from Wal-Mart loss prevention. This time Bowley was holding a woman in custody who he said was a shoplifter. Bowley said he watched as Krystsina Lebiadzinskaya 19, of Belarus placed cosmetic items into her purse.

Bowley claimed he then observed Lebiadzinskaya leave the store without paying for the items. The items in question had a value of $75.99.

Mercier proceeded to place Lebiadzinskaya under arrest for theft. While placing her into his police cruiser, an unidentified man approached Mercier and said he was from Oakland House in Blue Hill. The man said that Lebiadzinskaya was an exchange worker employed at the resort, according to reports. The man said he was the bus driver for a group from Oakland House.

Lebiadzinskaya was brought to Penobscot County Jail without incident. According to reports, efforts by police to contact the Oakland House to confirm her employment were unsuccessful.

A Bangor man was charged with OUI and violation of bail early Monday after he called police to complain about a woman who would not leave his vehicle.

Officer Ed Mercier of the Bangor Police Department responded to a call from Leadbetter’s store on Outer Hammond Street complaining of a woman refusing to leave a car. Upon arrival, Mercier saw a woman sitting in the passenger’s side of a parked car.

The woman claimed that Wayne Gregoire, 47, had promised her a ride to Dysart’s in Hermon if she paid him $3. The woman said that Gregoire would not give her the money back.

Gregoire then approached Mercier. Mercier asked Gregoire what he would like to do about the situation. Gregoire responded that he had picked the woman up on Cedar Street, but pulled the vehicle over at Leadbetter’s after she tried to cover his eyes while driving, according to reports. Gregoire claimed he had tried to get her to leave the vehicle, but she had refused, prompting him to call the police. Mercier wrote in his report that Gregoire’s breath smelled of alcohol.

Mercier then asked Gregoire how much he had drunk that evening. According to Mercier’s report, Gregoire responded, “Well, probably too much. I had a 40-ounce beer at noon.”

Mercier then administered field sobriety tests to Gregoire. After the tests, Mercier placed Gregoire under arrest for OUI. After placing Gregoire under arrest, Bangor dispatch informed Mercier that Gregoire was currently released on bail. Gregoire was also charged with violation of bail and brought to Penobscot County Jail without incident. His blood alcohol content was later found to be 0.22 percent.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Josh Keefe