Grocery Store Theft Reveals Shoplifting Gold Mine

Note to self: If I’m ever forced to become a thief, never take the authorities to my stash.

Although two shoplifters were originally snagged for storing away more than $180 worth of items in their purses, the jackpot found later in their car totaled almost $4,000 in stolen property.

Like most shoplifting crimes, the two walked into Tom Thumb in the 300 block of South Hampton Road and were seen wrapping up two DVD in the store’s ad. Employees put a tail on the duo and watched them as they made their way around the store pocketing candy bars, deodorant, Spam, and expensive bottles of vitamins.

But the downfall of this heist falls on their decision to purchase four 12-packs of soda.

Make the jump.

According to the police report, they completed their transaction and were promptly stopped in the parking lot.

After talking inside the store’s lost prevention office, the suspects asked if the officers would put the soda they bought in their car. Why not, right? It’s my soda. What could possibly go wrong trying to hang on to some soda I could easily buy again once I’m out on this charge?

Officers obliged and opened the door of the black 2010 Ford SUV to find a treasure trove of stolen merchandise:

Five Boss Belts: $425
Six Daniel Cremieux Belts: $360
Eight pairs of designer reading glasses: $1,525.65
13 Gap Body bras: $455.49
89 pairs of Gap Body underwear: $1,062.50

The thieves didn’t have a sales receipt for any of the items and the price tags were still on everything. One explained that a friend stole those items from Gap and she had purchased them so she could sell them.

All the items were taken into DPD’s property room and the two were transported to Lew Sterrett Justice Center.