Shoplifter With Expensive Taste Pepper Sprays Kohl's Guards
By Tom Mustin
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - Westminster residents still can't believe the brazen crime that took place inside the Kohl's store on Sheridan Boulevard.
"Scary to think people are doing that. We bring our kids here and it's family friendly," Rachael Huston told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
Surveillance video from Jan. 22 shows a man walking up to the jewelry counter and asking the clerk to show him a $10,000 Vera Wang ring.
The man tries it on and gives it back to the clerk. He then asks to see the ring again with a magnifying glass. The clerk returns and the man takes off with the ring. The surveillance camera loses him as he runs outside.
"We need to catch this guy," said investigator Cheri Spottke with the Westminster Police Department.
Spottke says security guards gave chase and were assaulted.
"As he left the store loss prevention at Kohl's did give chase out in the parking lot. He turned around and pepper-sprayed both officers in the face."
The man then fled.
Huston frequently brings her daughter, Zoey, to Kohls.
"Frustrating to know that people do that kind of stuff and get away with it. So hopefully they find the guy and he can pay for what he did," she said.
Meanwhile Spottke says catching this violent criminal is a top priority. They're worried his next crime may have a different ending.
"It's a $10,000 theft. That's concerning enough. But the fact he used pepper spray against loss prevention officers -- we just don't know what the next step might be."
The suspect is described as a black male, 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-3 tall and weighing around 250 pounds.
Additional Information From The Westminter Police Department
Remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message, or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com; or use the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers mobile app which is immediately available as a free download on smartphones.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
