Local residents were angered by the video of shoplifters stealing electrical wires worth thousands of dollars from a Lowes store.
Andrew Sullivan, a Keizer resident, said that the incident was so obvious that it riled him up. "They were simply walking through the parking lot and riding the carts."
The incident occurred in broad daylight on Aug 25th. Two men were seen pushing shopping carts filled with electric wire out of Lowes' doors. Two employees are unable to stop them.
SHOPLIFTERS HIT LOS ANGELES AREA TJ MAXX, CASUALLY LEAVE STORE CARRYING HEAP OF STOLEN GOODS
Lowes employees stood at the door and asked men to show their receipts as they approached. But they continued moving. The video then shows another Lowes employee approaching the men. This employee replies, "Hey, don't do that." It's not worth it."
"I believe these guys have done this before, because they seem to have a good system. Two men with carts and one guy with the car. They were certain that no one would touch them," said Sullivan. He also recorded the men loading the merchandise into a red Subaru.
Many people commented on the video and expressed their outrage. Lowes reported the incident to police. An investigation is ongoing. However, Keizer Police Lieutenant Andrew Copeland pointed out that many Oregon jails don't take shoplifters in an effort to reduce their population during COVID-19.
SAN FRANCISCO'S SHOPLIFTING PROBLEM INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATES BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES
Copeland stated that the men could face fines, citations, and then be released.
Copeland stated that shoplifters are not allowed to be stopped by employees at chain stores once they have stolen from Lowe's. These people know they won't be sent to jail.
Continue the story
Copeland and Sullivan valued the merchandise at approximately $2,000. Copeland stated that the suspects would likely remove the Romex wire to extract the valuable copper within.
WOULD-BE ROBBERS SHOT BY ARMED SHOPPERS IN LOS ANGELES
In recent months, shoplifting has been a growing problem across the country, with California being the most common. Two men from Los Angeles were caught on camera leaving TJ Maxx with arms full of shoplifted goods.
Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant. Jerretta Sandoz spoke out to CBS LA about the July incident. "And so that's sending a message to the criminals that we are winning."
TJ Maxx employees are instructed not to confront shoplifters. Sandoz claimed that she blamed the incident in part on Prop 47, which was a 2014 referendum that reduced criminal sentences for shoplifting.
She told CBS LA that if they are caught they will likely be given the equivalent to a traffic ticket. It is not something to be taken seriously.
