Help sought identifying Pierce County liquor thieves
PUYALLUP, Wash. -- Police investigating a string of liquor thefts are asking for the public's help identifying booze-stealing bandits caught on surveillance camera.
A security camera captured a clear shot of the two thieves as they walked into Beyond the Bottle on Jan. 7. Another camera got a very good look at the men as they took the stolen bottles to the front counter, tried to distract the clerk with a question then ran off with 14 bottles.
"They know one clerk is on duty," said Puyallup Police Capt. Scott Engle. "They take advantage of that scenario, select their items and then they flee."
"It's almost $800, $700 of liquor in two minutes that disappeared," said Beyond the Bottle owner Satbir Gill.
Gill hopes the surveillance video is enough to help police find the thieves, whom detectives believe may be responsible for at least 10 other liquor robberies throughout Pierce County.
In the most recent incident, investigators say the men pulled off their heist in the early afternoon while other customers were in the store.
The thieves picked up shopping baskets near the entrance and casually filled them as if they were shopping, never uttering a threatening word.
The owner is relieved nobody got hurt.
"We were fortunate," said Gill. "We don't know if they had weapons, but at least they didn't pull them out. So our employee, she was at least safe."
Police are tracking a dramatic increase in liquor thefts since voters approved privatization.
Customers like James Hayes understand why criminals are tempted.
"You can run, jump and go, get $50 or $100 (worth of booze). You know, that's worth it to a lot of people," Hayes said.
Anyone with information on the men's identity or whereabouts is urged to call police immediately.
A security camera captured a clear shot of the two thieves as they walked into Beyond the Bottle on Jan. 7. Another camera got a very good look at the men as they took the stolen bottles to the front counter, tried to distract the clerk with a question then ran off with 14 bottles.
"They know one clerk is on duty," said Puyallup Police Capt. Scott Engle. "They take advantage of that scenario, select their items and then they flee."
"It's almost $800, $700 of liquor in two minutes that disappeared," said Beyond the Bottle owner Satbir Gill.
Gill hopes the surveillance video is enough to help police find the thieves, whom detectives believe may be responsible for at least 10 other liquor robberies throughout Pierce County.
In the most recent incident, investigators say the men pulled off their heist in the early afternoon while other customers were in the store.
The thieves picked up shopping baskets near the entrance and casually filled them as if they were shopping, never uttering a threatening word.
The owner is relieved nobody got hurt.
"We were fortunate," said Gill. "We don't know if they had weapons, but at least they didn't pull them out. So our employee, she was at least safe."
Police are tracking a dramatic increase in liquor thefts since voters approved privatization.
Customers like James Hayes understand why criminals are tempted.
"You can run, jump and go, get $50 or $100 (worth of booze). You know, that's worth it to a lot of people," Hayes said.
Anyone with information on the men's identity or whereabouts is urged to call police immediately.
The shop can change its layout to reduce theft, In Georgia some alcohol stores have setups (like a jewelry store, perfume store, or like a firework stand) where everything is behind a counter the clerk would just grab what you want. People do not need to touch the alcohol before buying it.
Ultimately itâs the stores decision if they want to put in the effort to curb theft.
You wanted in the liquor business, so enjoy the ride. I have no sympathy for you booze peddlers.
@Harrison haha. You are a joke. I'm guessing a miserable person too. Bet you don't have sympathy for anyone.
Those are some pretty good pictures. I know if I ran a liquor store, I'd probably post those pics by the front door for visability in case they tried to steal from my store. They might reconsider especially after seeing their faces front and center.
lock it up!! hire those to man the locked see through cabinets.
One day there will be anarchy in the streets!! Fighting over food, gas, booze you name it!! Thievery is on the rise!
Because the Government will not stop running this country as if we were poor!! Are we??? Really??? Do we have to raise and hike everything up to a point where we're not making enough money to handle it??? IDIOTS????????? Oh yes, IDIOTS
If we just make booze illegal nobody would steal it!  Duh  <------ sarcasmÂ
Need to get tough on crime. If it"s a clear cut case and 100% guiltly like these two off with the hands show it live on the net crime will drop real quick i bet.
Am I missing something, but the photo on the left sure looks like a woman to me?
 @snow surfer I thought woman, too. Either way, they look like siblings to me.
@snow surfer The one on the right with the glasses looks like a woman to me. I don't know of too many men who would wear a purple coat.
 @The WA Mama  @snow ...or dual pony tails.
Why? Stupid sheep voted for it, they deserve what they get.
It must be a lot longer than I'd thought since I last bought a bottle of hard liquor. Are $50 bottles puny enough now that two morons could run out carrying 14 of them (basket or not) without dropping and/or breaking any on the way?Â
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If it's that expensive, and that easy and fast to load up a lot, maybe it's time to do like the electronics stores with smaller, more expensive items where you take either a placeholder card or an empty box up front, pay and someone brings your stuff out front from the warehouse.Â
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Sure, there's still going to be the occasional (frequent?) moron dumb enough to grab the clearly-labeled bottle of colored water from the display, but one bottle of cheap water beats 14 bottles of $50 alcohol any day.Â
Apparently there are times the store can afford to only have one clerk on duty. Apparently due to that scenario and the thefts. the store can't afford to not have just only one clerk on duty.
Criminals are criminals and will do anything for a fix, quick buck or whatever else shady characters want to do.
They shoplift everywhere and anything, like the shoplifters at Goodwill stores.
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 @Good guy bad thoughts Goodwill?! Thats pretty low. Its all already almost free.
What's that song..."dude looks like a lady"
If you're that desperate make a mini still and get some corn,sugar and yeast.
Maybe they are stealing the liquor to use as solvent for their meth lab and don't have time to cook up the mash and distill it.
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The one on the right looks like a woman to me.
I seriously thought she (is the person really a male?) was wearing Mouseketeer ears in the tiny photo linked on the main page.
She still looks female after a closer look, and that's going by her face, not just the little girl hairstyle.Â
Hello Washington, you got what you asked for... easy access to booze. Plus higher prices, to boot.
How's that working out for ya?
Costco & Friends sure are laughing all the way to the bank that you bought their pitch.
@DrugFighter higher prices, yes on a majority of items.. But these thefts occurred when they were state ran stores too.
 @nvemberrain  @DrugFighter I'm sure they did, just not as much as gets stolen NOW. The state liquor stores (at least the one by me) had much better layout/security than the grocery stores. I'm sure they'll figure it out, but right now it's a joke at Safeway, Fred Myer and the lot.
 @DrugFighter It's working our great, actually. Now I can buy a bottle of rum at 1 AM if I want to.
 @Tiffany I'm sure you can, but it comes at a price. And that's not something Uncle Costco told you about, up front. They made it seem like prices would go DOWN.
And people bought it. Hook, line and sinker.
Until retail stores start putting lliquor with the smokes in a controled area this will continue to happen.