Two men almost had a free holiday shopping spree after police say they tried to shoplift more than $1,000 worth of merchandise.

According to Salisbury Police reports, on Sunday, loss prevention at Walmart stopped two white males who attempted to leave the store with two loaded carts. Store employees told police that, when stopped, the younger of the two “took off running,” police spokeswoman Shelia Lingle said.

The other stayed with the carts, which were loaded with clothing, movies, an HP laptop, a video camera and other items. Lingle said the second man abandoned the carts and left by the time officers arrived. He was seen driving away from the scene in a dark gray or black Pontiac G6. According to police, the man was known to employees and had been previously banned from the store.

The merchandise the two allegedly attempted to make off with was valued at approximately $1,241, Lingle said.

In other Salisbury Police Department reports:

• A woman in the 100 block of Crawford Street reported a burglary Tuesday.
• A woman reported items stolen from a vehicle parked at Walmart on Tuesday.
• A man reported items stolen from a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of Freeland Drive Tuesday.
• A man reported Tuesday that someone stole a gun from the 200 block of John Penn Circle.
• The Drive Shaft Shop reported items stolen Tuesday.
• Areon Hayes, 17, was charged Tuesday with communicating threats.

In Rowan County Sheriff’s Office reports:

• A woman reported a vehicle theft in the 100 block of Briarwood Lake Drive on Monday.
• Jennie Lee Ritchie, 28, was charged Monday with obtaining property by false pretense.
• Harry Lance Ingram, 36, was charged Monday with financial transaction card takes or obtains.