LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – A shoplifter walks into a Lauderdale Lakes store. He talks for about 30 minutes on his cell phone while wandering around the Rainbow clothing store. His plan is to make a dash with his arms full of clothing and run out the front doors. But, to his surprise, employees have locked the doors ready for closing.
It happened around 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Rainbow at 3021 North State Road 7, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. When the thief realizes he’s locked inside, deputies say he loses his cool and starts kicking the door, dropping the clothes. He can be seen on video frantically kicking the door trying to break it open and yelling at employees to open the door.
(Watch video from surveillance cameras below)
As one of the employees is about to unlock the door to let him out, he realizes he can unlock the bolt himself and pushes the employee to the ground. But, he wasn’t going to leave the clothing behind. He grabs what he can from the floor and leaves, jumping into a red truck waiting outside of the store.
Local 10 News spoke to the store employee who said she texted her manager to tell her they were about to get robbed.
“And she said, ‘What?’ I was shaking. I was scared. Now I’m scared to close.” She does not want to be identified because she is afraid that the man may return. She says it was shocking as the thief, who she had asked at one point if he needed any help as he was walking around the store, went into a frenzy when he realized the doors were locked.
After he was able to open the door himself, the employee said that he walked toward her. “(He) pushed me on the floor, grabbed the stuff and left.”
The video surveillance captured a clear photo of the thief who, deputies say, got away with nearly $200 in merchandise.
The store employee has a message for the brazen thief. “Turn yourself in and stop doing this. It’s not worth it.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact BSO Det. Armando Enrique at (954) 321-4233 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-8477.