Man Grabs Cigarettes and Runs, Leaves Almost Enough Money to Cover Cost

An unidentified male almost, but not quite, left enough money to cover his shoplifted items during a recent incident at a Bethlehem convenience store.

On Nov. 21, at about 7:30 p.m., a white male wearing a gray stocking cap, gray pullover jacket, blue jeans and brown shoes entered the Shell Gas Station on Highway 81. Surveillance footage showed the male conceal a tube of Neosporin and a bottle of nasal spray before approaching the register and asking for a can of chewing tobacco and a pack of Marlboros.

The man handed the clerk a $10 bill which the clerk placed behind the register before informing the male his attempt to conceal the Neosporin and nasal spray had been caught on surveillance video. The male claimed not to know what the clerk was talking about, but returned the items to the shelf when the clerk indicated she was calling police. When the male returned to the register, the clerk advised she still intended to call authorities.

At that point, the clerk stepped away to retrieve a clipboard. As she was getting the clipboard, the male reportedly reached over the register, grabbed two packs of Marlboro 100s and ran out of the store.

The clerk followed the male outside in hopes of obtaining the license plate number off his vehicle, but never saw the man drive away. The clerk retained possession of the $10. The stolen cigarettes, according to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office incident report, had a total value of $11.

Several deputies searched the area in an attempt to locate the male, but were unable to find him.

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