'Betrayed the Public Trust': Virginia Officer Charged With Target Shoplifting While on Duty in Uniform

A veteran Virginia police officer has resigned after being formally charged with two counts of misdemeanour shoplifting following allegations that he stole merchandise from Target stores while on duty and wearing his official uniform.

Scott Abram, a 44-year-old resident of Spotsylvania with 23 years of continuous service at the Fairfax County Police Department, was charged on Thursday, 8 October 2026, following an investigation conducted by the force's Major Crimes and Internal Affairs bureaus.

Police allege that the decorated officer engaged in barcode-switching at a self-checkout till inside a Target outlet in Burke on 22 September, leaving the premises with multiple items after paying for only one.

Authorities confirmed that Abram returned to a second Target branch in Springfield four hours later whilst off duty to execute a similar fraudulent transaction.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis publicly rebuked the veteran school resource officer, stating that the accused had betrayed the public trust in an unacceptable manner that would not be tolerated. As local prosecutors review court filings classifying the goods as valued under £770 [$1,000], reports suggest the stolen items included collectible trading cards.

Virginia Officer's Target Shoplifting Charges Follow Two Store Visits

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the first incident allegedly occurred at approximately 1pm on 22 September at a Target store at 10301 New Guinea Road in Burke. Loss prevention staff alleged that Abram concealed one item's barcode using a less expensive item during a self-checkout transaction.

Investigators said Abram then left the store with both items despite paying for only one. Police confirmed that he was wearing his department-issued uniform and was on duty at the time of the alleged incident.

A similar incident allegedly occurred at approximately 5pm that day at another Target store at 6600 Springfield Mall in Springfield. Police said Abram was off duty during the second visit but did not provide the same level of detail about what allegedly happened at that checkout.

Officers responded to the Burke store at approximately 11am on 23 September after staff reported the earlier incident. The department's Internal Affairs Bureau and Major Crimes Bureau were notified, and Abram was placed on administrative leave while criminal and administrative investigations proceeded.

Abram, a Spotsylvania resident, had served with the Fairfax County Police Department for 23 years and was assigned to its School Resource Officer Unit. According to WJLA-TV, he most recently worked at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria, and Fairfax County Public Schools was notified about the investigation.

Detectives charged Abram with two counts of misdemeanour shoplifting on 8 October. Police said he was released on two criminal summonses, although the charges remain allegations and do not establish that he committed either offence.

The department did not identify the merchandise or disclose its precise value. However, WJLA reported that Fairfax County court records classified the charge as involving merchandise valued at less than $1,000, without specifying the products involved.

What Police Said About the Target Shoplifting Allegations

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said an officer had 'betrayed the public trust,' adding, 'It is unacceptable, and I will not tolerate it.' His remarks reflected the department's response to the alleged conduct and did not constitute a judicial finding of guilt.

The distinction between the two incidents matters because police identified only the Burke allegation as occurring while Abram was on duty. The Springfield incident allegedly took place approximately four hours later, when he was no longer on duty.

Additional information emerged through WJLA-TV's reporting. Citing sources familiar with the investigation, the station said the merchandise allegedly involved was Magic, The Gathering trading cards, a collectible card game whose products vary considerably in price.

Fairfax County Police have not publicly confirmed that the merchandise was trading cards. The court records described by WJLA also did not identify the products or their exact value, making it impossible to determine whether the alleged items had any unusual collectible or resale value.

The department's public statements also described Abram's employment status differently. Its 9 October announcement said he had been placed on administrative leave, while a separate police statement published by WJLA referred to him as a former officer.

That statement confirmed that the department's Internal Affairs investigation would continue despite Abram's resignation. The available statements did not establish the exact date of his departure, leaving the timing of his resignation unclear.

Abram is expected to appear before the Fairfax County General District Court in the coming weeks to answer the criminal charges.