A 36-year-old Bloomsdale man allegedly stole at least 37 bottles of perfume and cologne after he used a key to unlock a display case at the Walgreens store, 3937 Vogel Road, in Arnold. The man reportedly made several trips to the store to steal the perfume and cologne, which had been stored in the locked case and was valued at $2,634.66, Arnold Police reported.
On Dec. 6, a Walgreens employee had lost the key to the display case, and on Dec. 8, another employee found it inside the case. The employees thought it was odd the lost key was in the display case, so they reviewed the store’s surveillance video, the report sad.
The video reportedly showed a man with red hair enter the Walgreens at about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 6 and go to the case. He allegedly opened the case with the key, took several bottles from the case, hid them under his sweater and left the business, Arnold Police reported.
He returned that day at 10:26 a.m., 8:48 p.m., 8:55 p.m., 10:42 p.m. and 10:46 p.m. and allegedly opened the case during each visit and took more bottles, each time without paying for the perfume or cologne, the report said.
After the theft was reported, an officer went to a nearby Mobil on the Road gas station, 3611 W. Outer Road, to view its video surveillance and spotted the same man seen in the Walgreens’ video. The officer determined the man was driving a Honda Odyssey, according to the report.
The suspect was identified, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office arrested the man Dec. 17, the report said.
The suspect reportedly asked officers why he was being questioned about felony stealing, and when they told him the value of the items he allegedly stole was more than $2,600, which was a felony, he allegedly told investigators, “I didn’t take that many,” and requested a lawyer, according to the report.
The man was booked and released, and Arnold Police are seeking a felony stealing charge against him through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Cpl. Brett Ackermann said.