On December 31, 2012, at approximately 9:18 p.m., deputies with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to an incident reported from the Safeway store at 7110 North Oracle Road. Upon arrival at the scene, deputies learned that a shoplifter had just sprayed an employee with pepper spray.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division found that earlier that night, the store’s Loss Prevention Officer had observed a male individual grab a blue gift bag. The male then continued to the aisle of alcoholic beverages where he grabbed two vodka gift boxes containing a bottle of vodka and a set of shot glasses from a Christmas display. The suspect then placed these items into the blue gift bag and added more bottles of a different product. He left the store without paying for any of the items.
The Loss Prevention Officer followed the suspect outside and confronted him in the parking lot. As he demanded the suspect hand over the stolen items, he was repeatedly sprayed in the eyes with a chemical irritant.
The suspect then walked away towards Beyond Bread. Surveillance footage was obtained at the store. Anyone who recognizes the suspect shown in the footage or who has any other information on this case is asked to call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME.