A South Florida business owner is reeling after, he said, a man fled from his liquor store with several bottles worth hundreds of dollars, in what was the latest in a string of thefts that have taken place at this location.
After picking up his selection of high-dollar liquor, the subject is seen approaching the register at 24/7 Liquors, located at 3101 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. in Pembroke Park, Saturday.
Surveillance video shows the clerk preparing the credit card machine as the man is seen holding what appears to be a wallet in his right hand. “He pulled out his cash and, as I started to bag [the bottles], he pulled out his wallet to pay with his card,” said the clerk.
But instead of handing her a credit card, the thief is seen grabbing the three bags holding the bottles, one after the other. “He picked up his stuff and walked out,” said the clerk.
An exterior surveillance camera shows him walking away. “He walked out with $700 of champagne and liquor,” said store owner Paul Moutsatsos.
Moutsatsos is frustrated but certainly not shocked. He has seen this criminal behavior before.
Back in August 2015, a mother was seen instructing her little girl to snag a bottle of tequila. “She looks at the bottle that she wants, and the child stays in front of the bottle,” Moutsatsos said. “[The mother] walks away to talk to the clerk. [The child] tries to take the bottle, but it’s too heavy for her, and she puts it back.”
The girl is seen putting back the bottle of 1800 of silver tequila. She tries to hold it, but shortly after ends up settling for a smaller bottle, which she is seen holding behind her back as she walks away.
Moments later, the mother is seen trying to block an employee’s view of the girl, who is standing near the entrance. “[The child] is two-stepping, two-stepping. The mother is covering her. Whoops! Then she goes out the door,” said Moutsatsos.
The theft was so absurd that the video went viral and national news shows talked about the woman, who was nicknamed “tequila mom.”
In a 2010 incident, three women were captured stealing merchandise at another liquor store Moutsatsos used to own. The trio made the bizarre decision to stuff bottles up their dresses.
In April 2016, a woman was captured in what the store called its “face cam,” right before she made a mad dash for the door with a $300 bottle of champagne.
In Saturday’s theft, the subject even took his time as he walked around the store while talking on his cellphone before he made his move.
Moutsatsos hopes the crisp surveillance footage will lead authorities to the liquor thief. “You can clearly see his face, and hopefully we get him,” he said.
If you have any information on Saturday’s theft, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.