Walmart in Butler Township on October 10, 2018.

An iPhone crash notification led Butler Township police to apprehend a Lyndora husband and wife accused of stealing a purse outside Walmart and multiple retail thefts.

Misty Jade Waggoner, 45, and Jack Edward Waggoner, 62, were seen on security cameras stealing merchandise valued at nearly $200 on March 11 at the Walmart in Butler Commons, police said. Later, the couple stole a purse from a cart in the parking lot.

Butler Township police were alerted to the incident by a “crash notification” from the woman’s phone that was in the purse. The notification came from the area of Whitestown Road and Villa Drive, but when police responded, they didn’t find anyone in the area.

A crash notification can be triggered by a crash or another extreme, sudden change in motion. A phone can automatically contact emergency services in such situations.

Following the alert, a woman called police and reported her elderly mother believed her purse was stolen while at Walmart. Her family had received the crash notification and searched the area. They found no purse, but located a phone. The device was broken and appeared to have been thrown.

The phone, the purse and its contents had an estimated value of $865, and the merchandise stolen from Walmart totaled $191.12, police said.

As the investigation unfolded, police used security footage in the Walmart parking lot to uncover more information. The footage showed the Waggoners loading stolen merchandise into their vehicle, and Misty Waggoner taking a purse left in a cart when returning her cart.

Police said Jack Waggoner was detained at Walmart two days later during another retail theft attempt. Police said he attempted to steal $349.22 in merchandise this time.

Misty Waggoner was not detained at that time, and neither is in custody at this time.

Security footage from the more recent incident showed both Jack and Misty Waggoner putting items in a cart, police said. The footage then showed Misty distracting the Walmart employee who checks receipts at the entrance while Jack pushed his cart passed to the door, the affidavit said.

Police questioned Jack Waggoner about the stolen purse, and he denied any involvement and said his wife no longer had it.

Police followed up with the owner of the purse March 16 and learned a PennDOT employee had found the purse near where the phone was found and returned it.

Misty Waggoner is charged across three criminal cases with two misdemeanor counts of criminal conspiracy and one misdemeanor count each of theft and retail theft. Jack Waggoner was charged across two cases with two misdemeanor counts each of retail theft and criminal conspiracy.

Preliminary hearings for the Waggoners have not yet been scheduled.