Police said the two men, using a pallet jack, took a skid full of batteries, which weighed about 3,500 pounds, and placed it in the truck, which was equipped with a powered lift.
Police say the theft took about 15 minutes.
Walmart’s manager told Middletown police she was aware of a “theft ring” hitting Walmart stores and knew Franklin’s Walmart had a similar theft.
According to Franklin police chief Russ Whitman, a report filed on April 29 stated 90 used car batteries, and 30 used lawn and garden batteries valued at $1,080 were stolen from a locked cage outside the East Second Street store.
“They are probably related and we are treating them as such,” Whitman said of the continuing investigation. He added there are no suspects at this time.
Whitman also said the Franklin Walmart store has had 77 theft reports since Jan. 1 this year, which is up slightly from 67 to this point in 2011.
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