SandyMaloneSeattle, WA – Seattle police put an end to a shoplifting spree at Costco, when they captured the thieves as they were making their getaway through an emergency exit (video below).
Police have released dashcam and bodycam video footage of the entire incident, which they titled “Officers Arrest Costco Thieves in Bulk.”
The Seattle Police Department said that South Precinct officers responded to a call about shoplifting-in-progress at Costco at about 5:30 p.m. on March 14.
Loss prevention officers inside the store recognized the suspect as someone who had previously stolen merchandise from the store, and escaped through the fire exit in the back of the store, Seattle police said in a statement.
Security personnel warned police that in previous robberies, the suspect was armed with a large knife.
Responding officers went directly to the fire exit of the store upon arrival, and found a black Toyota with an 18-year-old female getaway driver, backed up to the fire exit doors, and waiting for the thieves.
“Don’t let her touch her phone,” one of the officers warned, as they approached the car.
As police interviewed the woman in the getaway car, they heard noises coming from the emergency exit doors, as the thieves tried to escape.
On the video, officers can be heard saying they’re just going to wait for the robbers to come out with the laptops, as they set up outside of the fire exit doors.
Seconds later, the doors burst open and the thieves came out loaded down with computers and other items they’d stolen from the store.
The video showed the thieves walk straight into the arms, and handcuffs, of waiting Seattle police officers.
In the video, one of the officers yelled “Hey buddy!” in greeting as the surprised thieves stopped dead in the doorway.
Officers arrested a 30-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman who were trying to leave the store with stolen computers and vacuum cleaners valued at $2,200, according to the statement released by Seattle police.
The three suspects were also accused of stealing a similar amount of merchandise from another area Costco store earlier in the day, police said.
Police recovered a 7-inch, fixed-blade knife from the male suspect. He was booked into King County Jail on robbery charges, police said.
Both female suspects were arrested and charged with theft.
You can see the video of the incident below: