MILLBURY – A Massachusetts State Police trooper has been suspended without pay and faces criminal charges for allegedly shoplifting from Target stores over an extended period of time.
Police say the officer used a shoplifting method called “skip scanning” at self-checkout counters.
A Massachusetts State Police officer has been arrested
Police say Zachariah Kent, 30, is a repeat offender accused of 23 counts of shoplifting from Target stores in Millbury and Worcester.
Investigators say he was caught on camera stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from the stores.
Police said it was part of a scheme called “skip scanning,” where someone uses the self-checkout option to pay for some items, but skips paying for other items.
The Massachusetts State Police addressed the allegations in a statement Monday.
“The Massachusetts State Police will not tolerate theft or dishonesty, and we hold our members accountable to the highest professional standards,” the department said. “When these disturbing allegations came to our attention, the Department immediately relieved the accused soldier of duty, initiated an internal affairs investigation and suspended him without pay following the hearing on his duty status. We remain fully committed to working with the investigators as we await the outcome. of the criminal process.”
Zachariah Kent suspended
Trooper Kent graduated from the State Police Academy in October 2022 and has no other prior disciplinary history, according to the Massachusetts State Police.
He has been suspended without pay.
Kent has been served a summons and is expected to appear in court in February 2025.
Tammy Mutasa
