SAN ANTONIO - One popular drug store chain needs your help catching a crook who's hit their stores all over town. His actions could mean higher prices for you at the register!
The perfume thief has hit eight different Walgreens, including one this past Saturday night. He's stolen nearly $10,000 worth of perfume.
The News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters got a hold of security video from one of the stores. In it, you can actually see one of San Antonio's most wanted shoplifters in action. Cameras catch him quickly popping the lock, or breaking the glass, on the perfume case. Then the thief starts cramming hundreds of dollars worth of perfume bottles into his pants.
"Everyone is losing money," Jose Valle, Walgreens store manager, told us. "These individuals know what they're doing. They're very skilled."
As the News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters first showed you Monday, Walgreens isn't the only store being targeted. San Antonio Police have gone undercover to catch people trying to buy and re-sell stolen items. Captain John Saucedo explained that stores have to make up their losses by charging you more for what you buy.
"The rest of the community pays. If you think that the shoplifting doesn't effect you, it certainly does. I mean you feel it in the pocketbook," Captain Saucedo said.
We wanted to know how much shoplifting could cost you. So the News 4 WOAI Trouble Shooters crunched the numbers and found out of every dollar you spend, about seven cents goes to make up for stolen items.
So take a good look at he man in the security video. In some cases he's struck two or three times in the same week. If you think you recognize him, call Crime Stoppers at 224-STOP. They pay up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest, and you don't have to give your name.
