An oblivious criminal got more than he bargained for this month when he allegedly tried to shoplift items from a store teeming with Fairfield police officers who were there for the department’s annual “Shop With a Cop” day.
The incident occurred Aug. 13 while the community’s police officers were donating their time to take children for a shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods at 1451 Gateway Blvd.
The store was filled with 15 to 25 uniformed police officers and professional staff.
Into their midst came an 18-year-old man. His behavior attracted attention because it was “furtive,” Fairfield police said in a Facebook post.
“You know, all sneaky like,” police said.
“Although the man was likely surprised to see so many officers inside, he (unfortunately for him) still decided to push forward with his plans for theft,” they added.
Soon, the man was seen stuffing merchandise down his pants.
A group of officers who had congregated near the front doors “played it cool as the shoplifter casually walked right through them like nothing had happened,” according to police.
He didn’t get far. As soon as he walked out the doors, he was detained, and the merchandise was recovered.
Police said they withheld the suspect’s name “due to age and the hope that he’ll turn his life around.” Until then, he was booked into Solano County Jail.
The shoplifting incident was not the only one broken up at the Fairfield sporting goods store this month, as just six days later police responded to another call, this time for two people who were reported by store management loading a shopping cart with approximately $1,700 in merchandise and attempting to leave without paying.
“Officers arrived within five minutes of the call and apprehended the shoplifters as they exited the store,” police wrote on their Facebook feed. “(guess they missed yesterday’s post).”
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