HAMMOND, La. — The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested two women and is searching for a third in connection with multiple discount store thefts that occurred last summer.
Paula Forney, 47, was booked on one count of felony theft, while Chekita White, 51, was issued a summons for theft by shoplifting and accessory to obstruction of justice. Forney also faces unrelated drug and fugitive charges. Lisa Tate, 57, remains wanted on one count of felony theft.
TPSO said the investigation began in June 2025 after at least two thefts at the Dollar General on South Airport Road in Hammond. Surveillance footage showed three women entering the store, with one distracting the clerk while the other two collected large amounts of merchandise, including soap and detergent, in a large tote. All three left without paying and drove away in a silver SUV with paper tags not registered with the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Public tips helped identify Forney and Tate as suspects at the time, but locating them proved difficult, TPSO said. Last week, an unrelated drug investigation led deputies to Forney and White in the suspect vehicle from the June thefts. Authorities confirmed both were among the individuals seen in the summer surveillance footage and took them into custody. Tate remains at large as of Wednesday.
Sheriff Gerald Sticker urges anyone with information on Tate’s location to contact Detective Earl McFarland at 985-514-8181.
