A man distracted a clerk at the Hi Ho Gas Station on Meadowbrook Drive on April 18, stealing an undisclosed number of lottery scratch tickets, according to Airdrie RCMP Media Liaison Constable Jason Curtis. The incident took place at 1:20 p.m.
A man distracted a clerk at the Hi Ho Gas Station on Meadowbrook Drive on April 18, stealing an undisclosed number of lottery scratch tickets, according to Airdrie RCMP Media Liaison Constable Jason Curtis. The incident took place at 1:20 p.m.
“ How the individual did it, we wouldn't have noticed if we hadn't seen the video surveillance,” Curtis said. “ The clerk noticed because a bunch (of the scratch tickets) were missing.
“ This individual requested cigarettes and when the clerk turned around he quickly reached under the plastic top that had all the visible lottery tickets, grabbed a bunch and threw them onto the floor,” he said. “ As he knelt down, it appeared from the clerk's standpoint that he was selecting a candy bar, but he was actually stuffing the tickets into his clothing. He did select a candy bar and paid for it.”
According to Curtis, the video surveillance was able to clearly capture the man taking the scratch tickets, throwing them onto the floor and then putting them into his clothing.
RCMP describe the man as Caucasian, in his 30s, 6' tall and overweight. He is bald but has a dark chin-strap style goatee and at the time of the incident he was wearing a dark jacket, a T-shirt and had a pair of sunglasses on top of his head.
RCMP is investigating a man's theft of three pairs of jeans from the Below the Belt store at CrossIron Mills Mall in Balzac on April 22 at approximately 5 p.m., according to Curtis.
“ The individual came into the store and we believe he may have removed the inventory control tags,” Curtis said. “ He put the jeans in another bag and walked out. We were contacted by a staff member later.”
According to Curtis, the stores at the mall are often victims of this sort of petty crime.
“ Unfortunately, most of the stores have been hit,” he said. “ A lot of individuals keep the little magnetic machine for removing the control tags in their shirts or brassieres. You'll see them very clearly on the video surveillance reach in, remove the clip, put the little machine back into their clothing and then stuff the (items they are stealing) into a bag.”
RCMP describe the man as having dark skin, short dark hair and a dark goatee. He is of an average to large build and was wearing a red hat and a red and grey T-shirt.
Curtis said he was in his 30s to 40s.
If you have any information on any crime, call the Airdrie RCMP detachment at (403) 945-7200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
