CRIME

Theft suspects caught on camera stealing carts full of groceries in Sandy

Jan 13, 2025, 10:07 PM | Updated: Jan 14, 2025, 4:54 pm

SALT LAKE CITY – A crime unfolded at a local grocery store in East Sandy Friday when two brazen thieves loaded up carts of groceries and made a daring getaway. The audacious act, captured on video, has left the community both appalled and on high alert.

Witnesses initially mistook the commotion for an emergency. Ammon Hanks, a bystander who stumbled upon the incident, shared his experience.

“I heard the male voice saying, ‘If you get any closer, I’m going to beat you up,'” Hanks recounted.

Realizing the potential danger, Hanks and the store manager decided to keep their distance.

“It’s not worth either one of us getting hurt. We don’t know who these people are,” Hanks explained.

Despite the tense situation, Hanks kept recording on his phone—a decision that police believe could prove pivotal in solving the case.

“It’s very important to be a good witness,” Sgt. Greg Moffitt, with the Sandy Police Department, said. “Videos like this can be a game-changer when tracking down suspects. The best thing you can do is provide us with as much detail as possible.”

The grocery store, identified as Ream’s, commended its employees for handling the situation appropriately.

“We are proud to share that our employees followed their training precisely, prioritizing safety while addressing the situation,” Ream’s said in a statement to KSL TV.

Longtime shopper Liz Longacre expressed her frustration with the brazenness of the crime.

“It’s appalling that people have the gall to do something like this,” Longacre said. “They don’t even care that they’re being recorded.

Ream’s full statement

A message from Ream’s Food Stores Management

At Ream’s, we take great pride in being a family-owned business that has served our community for decades. We deeply value the trust our customers place in us and the safety of both our employees and patrons.

On January 10th, two individuals attempted to leave the store with two full carts of unpaid merchandise. When approached by our store manager, they forcefully pushed past him and fled to the parking lot, where their actions were recorded by a customer. We are proud to share that our employees followed their training precisely, prioritizing safety while addressing the situation.

While incidents like this are still rare, we’ve seen an increase in this type of brazen theft in recent years. Shoplifting remains a significant issue for the retail industry, and we will work diligently to mitigate it’s impact without passing the associated costs onto our customers. However, as these crimes become more frequent, it poses chalenges for all retailers, including family-owned businesses like ours.

Ream’s remains committed to maintaing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors. We thank our employees for their professionalism and our loyal customers for their continued support.

Sincerely,

Ream’s Food STores Management

KSL 5 TV Live

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Theft suspects caught on camera stealing carts full of groceries in Sandy