POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — A wanted smoke shop thief has been taken into custody by authorities in Broward County.
Employees at the Pompano Beach store said the same person was terrorizing the shop all month.
Surveillance video from Feb. 19 shows a man inside Galaxy Smoke Shop, located at 1811 E. Sample Road, stealing items right behind an employee’s back.
The video captures him slipping merchandise into his pocket several times.
Staff said the same man stole from the store on Feb. 9, as well.
At one point, he’s seen swiping items from the counter the moment the worker turns around.
Jay Hareb, of Galaxy Smoke Shop, said the suspected serial shoplifter had employees on high alert.
He said when the man walked into the store on Tuesday morning, his luck had run out.
“They actually caught him this time,” he said. “They’re doing their job.”
After a worker called deputies, the Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested Trellvis Thomas, 21, in connection with the shoplifting case.
Employees said he’s the same man who targeted their store several times this month.
It’s the latest case in a string of thefts from vape shops in South Florida.
Some criminals have gone even further, hurling rocks and bricks through windows, desperate to grab vapes and other merchandise.
BSO urges businesses to install surveillance systems to deter criminals and help investigators track suspects.
Galaxy Smoke Shop has also installed bulletproof glass as an added layer of precaution.
“It’s kind of out of nowhere, but we’re trying to take precautions,” said Hareb.
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