A 23-year-old Michigan man visiting the Kansas City area for the FIFA World Cup has been charged with felony stealing after allegedly attempting to leave a Walmart in Gladstone, Missouri, with two Nintendo Switch 2 consoles without paying. The suspect, identified as Myles A. Pringle, faces a felony charge involving property valued at $750 or more, which carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 under Missouri law if convicted.
According to KSHB 41 News, the incident unfolded after Pringle allegedly presented what appeared to be a delivery application order confirmation to an employee in the store’s electronics department. The report, citing court documents and the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, states that a newly hired employee retrieved the two Nintendo Switch 2 consoles from a secure storage area before Pringle allegedly attempted to leave the store without completing the purchase.
Suspect allegedly used a fake order confirmation
Court documents cited by investigators state that Pringle entered the Walmart in Gladstone and approached the electronics department with what appeared to be a delivery application order confirmation for two Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.
A newly hired employee reportedly believed the confirmation was legitimate, retrieved the consoles from a secured storage area, and handed them over. Authorities allege Pringle then attempted to complete the purchase at a self-checkout kiosk by scanning a barcode displayed on his phone. When the transaction failed, he allegedly placed both consoles into shopping bags and headed toward the store exit without paying.
Loss prevention employees stopped him before he left the store and alerted an off-duty Clay County Sheriff’s deputy who was working security at the location, according to the probable cause statement.
Following the arrest, Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson emphasized that local authorities would pursue criminal charges regardless of where a suspect resides.
“Clay County is a welcoming place, but visitors to our community should know that we will enforce the laws of the State of Missouri and hold offenders accountable,”
Thompson said in a statement released by the prosecutor’s office.
The incident comes as demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 remains high following its launch, with retailers continuing to implement measures to prevent theft and unauthorized purchases of the popular console.
