MIAMI – Surveillance video captured a thief who gave new meaning to the term ‘bottoms up’ as he stole thousands of dollars’ worth of high-end champagne and wine from a grocery store in Miami.
The first incident happened in April at Milam’s Market, located at 3050 SW 37th Ave., just off Douglas Road.
The video shows the man picking the lock of cases that stored high-priced wines and champagne bottles that cost up to $100 each and then crouching behind packs of water while transferring the bottles to a bag.
After the store decided to reposition the surveillance cameras, the man was seen returning to the market in June and stuffing the “bubbly” in a bag.
“It is unusual behavior and it’s a sense of potential entitlement that ‘I won’t get caught,’ but we are going to catch him,”' said Chad Milam, the owner of the store.
Milam told Local 10 News that the thief has been to the store three separate times and has come in with some kind of tool each time.
The owner has a message for the suspect and anyone that tries to steal from his store.
“Don’t come to a store and expect not to get caught,” he said.
Surveillance video also showed the man carrying his stuffed backpack and pretending to buy some food when his card is declined and then walking off with all the bottles in his bag.
“We are going to put a stop to it because we can’t operate in a business environment where theft is rampant,” said Milan.
Police are urging anyone with information on the thief to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.