BANGOR, Maine — A man filled his shopping cart at Hannaford supermarket on Union Street two weeks ago and then pushed the cart out of the store without paying for the nearly $270 in items, Sgt. Paul Edwards said Tuesday.
Police have been unable to catch up with the man and on Tuesday released a surveillance camera image of him inside the store on the department’s Facebook page and to local news media.
“It’s not the crime of the century,” Edwards said. But he noted “it’s just so easy” to use social media such as Facebook to catch criminals.
Since the department created its Facebook page in late 2009, it has posted images of shoplifters at the Bangor Mall, thefts at convenience stores and press releases about arrests. It has also used the page to disseminate information about parking bans during snowstorms and downtown concerts, emerging scams and other important developments.
Edwards said it is one of the most useful tools the department has for public relations and solving crimes.
The shoplifting suspect is described as between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall. He was wearing tan pants and a black hooded jacket when he left the store with the stolen groceries about 3 p.m. Jan. 31.
As store security pursued the man, “he fled on foot, leaving the groceries and cart behind in the parking lot,” Edwards said. “All $269.71 worth of items were recovered.”
Those with information about the case are asked to call Officer Jamie Fanning at 947-7382, ext. 95772. The department’s anonymous tip line can be reached by pressing ext. 6.
“People say, ‘What is the big deal?’” when minor crimes, such as shoplifters, are posted online, Edwards said. “We’re not losing any sleep over it, but why not catch the petty ones, too?”
Edwards said “it’s not the crime of the century”……NSDT, but it is a crime so catch the guy and prosecute…..
NSDT-nice!
So a guys picture is taken in the liquor isle, does that make him an alcoholic? Did anyone think that maybe he has a family he is trying to feed? Maybe he lost his job and was acting out of desperation. Good honest people commit crimes in situations they thought they would never be in. I Go hungry a couple days, let your children or the ones that depend on you go without food and shelter and see how long you can stand it. I have been there and know personally what it feels like.Don’t judge, he may be just another victim of the economy.
Yes and needed a bottle of liquor to wash away the guilt. Maybe he was drunk and forgot to go through the line!
I am at a lost why your little rant is directed at me?? Wasn’t judging the man, just stating the fact that he committed a crime and needs to be held accountable for his actions……
Well they got the stuff back. I see the prices on food everyday. Not the crime of the century and yes he should be charged but big business should be charged also for things like miss leading advertizing . price fixing,ETC but they never will be charged.
One would have to be from another planet not to know that retail businesses from car dealerships to pharmacies have a bazillion cameras going 24 hours a day. That’s how desperate people are today. They often have nothing to lose, so they do.
It is a shame he had to steal to eat. Theft is theft and is never to be accepted. However I am less judgmental about the theft of food than, say, prescription drugs or weapons.
umm, did you see the picture they released??? he’s not stealing this stuff to eat, he’s stealing it to trade for drugs or money or whatever… i mean seriously he’s in the ALCOHOL ISLE, how is that any better??? a crime is a crime, wether commited by a 20 y/o male, or an 85 y/o felmale, wether they steal a candy bar or a car it’s still stealing and in the long run we have to pay for it… prosecute prosecute
Look, I’m not trying to say stealing anything is OK. So I agree, a crime is a crime. I am only saying that stealing food is a little bit more understandable than stealing other things. Booze for instance. Of course I cannot be sure but I think the cart is filled with food, not alcohol.
He just forgot his EBT card at home. He will be back to settle up, I am sure. No surprise he is perusing the alcohol / bean isle.
I love how they show him reaching for booze. He looks like a slightly younger version of horror movie freak/actor Michael Berryman. They just need to hire a receipt checker like Sam’s club.
He looks like you..lol
I used to be this guys camp counselor. It’s too bad, he was a good kid.
Did he rquire a special diet at the dining commons?
uh if you know who he is…..
If you recognize him, I am sure the police would like you to share his identity with them.
Turn them cameras around!!!
I want to see who is “Robbing ME “at the check out!
$270 dollars worth? Thats not much. Bangor PD should post pictures of Hannafords owners. Theyre the real thieves.
$270 gets you what? A loaf of bread and gallon of milk?
That Carhartt jacket he is wearing is worth about $ 270 dollars !
Looks like a $39 Sams Club.
Maybe but if you look close on the lower left hand side i think i saw a carhartt tag. He probably stole that too !
I bet he is a poor working stiff who does not qualify for EBT food stamps, but can not afford to buy food and is hungry.
Well a least he has so good food in his basket. I hope he is able to feed his family for a little while with it. We are all just a paycheck a way from being this person.
might as well catch him we all know they can not do much of anything else but theft is a crime too police can earn there money here for five minutes
He kind of looks like Mitt Romney.