A Florida woman has been arrested in connection to a multi-state crime spree that targeted several major retailers along a stretch of southern federal highway, Louisiana authorities say.
Teresa Webster, 56, from Boynton Beach, Florida, was taken into custody in Jennings, Louisiana, this week, where she faces multiple charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless operation of a vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, and illegal possession of stolen items.
Webster’s arrest followed a car crash on July 29, 2024, on Interstate 10, where officers discovered a vehicle pulling a trailer had overturned, trapping the occupants, who sustained minor injuries.
Witnesses at the scene told authorities that Webster’s erratic driving was the cause of the crash. Upon further investigation, police suspected Webster was under the influence of narcotics. A toxicology screening was conducted, but the results are still pending.
As the investigation progressed, officers obtained a search warrant for Webster’s vehicle, where they allegedly found drug paraphernalia and stolen items.
Further investigation revealed that Webster was linked to thefts at multiple locations, including a Home Depot in Slidell, Louisiana, where tools were stolen, and a Dillard’s department store in Alabama, where she allegedly stole a Louis Vuitton handbag valued at approximately $1,350.
Surveillance footage from various retailers along the I-10 corridor, which stretches from Florida to Texas, showed Webster’s involvement in multiple thefts. Law enforcement stated that Webster has an extensive criminal history across four states, including charges related to narcotics possession and trafficking, retail theft, fraud, and possession of stolen property.
The investigation is ongoing, with Jennings police collaborating with agencies across state lines to identify other potential crimes. Webster is currently being held at the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail on a $12,500 bond.
This arrest marks another chapter in Webster’s long history of alleged criminal activity, as authorities continue to investigate her connections to further thefts across the region.
