Best Buy Heist: Thieves cut holes in store roofs, steals merchandise before Black Friday | Baldwin County Alabama News

SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – At least two thieves cut a hole in the roof of a Best Buy store in Spanish Fort and stole a large amount of computer equipment in just days of Black Friday, police said on Thursday. Private.

Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber told FOX10 News the theft happened early in the morning when the store was closed. He said surveillance video showed at least two people.

He said the thieves were targeting Apple products. Barber said he had no immediate loss but added that it was substantial.

“This is the kind of Griff that stole Christmas, and we plan to catch them.” he say.

According to Spanish Fort police, the theft occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. Surveillance video shows two people dressed in black, with their faces covered, climbing into the store and carrying a large amount of computers and electronic device.

“They cut a significant hole in the roof, got into Best Buy with a ladder they brought with them. They left a ladder there,” said Barber. “They spent quite a bit of time inside the store, mainly targeting Apple products. And they also got into some other laptops that were in these cages. “

Barber said this reminds him of a group of professional thieves that hit Best Buys across the Southeast a few years ago. He was working with the Mobile Police Department at the time and said that criminals stormed the shop there and in the Spanish Fort.

Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said in a conference call with analysts just this week that theft is becoming a bigger problem — to the point that it’s already frustrating employees. She said the company is ramping up security in response.

“This hurts our associates and is unacceptable,” she said. “We are doing everything we can to try to create the safest environment possible.”

Best Buy shoppers on Wednesday expressed shock at the brazenness of the crime.

“Someone knows what they’re doing,” said Jerry Brown, an Elberta resident looking for the game.

Frank Diaz, who was traveling from Memphis to Pensacola, stopped at the store to buy a charger.

“Pretty clever,” he said. “Not necessarily ingenious, but from what I gather, the way it’s done, very-they’ll just put so much effort into designing or creating something. However, it was quite shocking. … It’s terrible to know that someone is going to do this just two days before Black Friday.”

Barber said the thieves spent about two hours inside the store, methodically removing valuables. Then, he said, they left the ladder. Police found discarded saws, bolt cutters, drills and other tools in the store and on the roof.

“The individuals who attacked the store planned it,” he said. “They know where the goods are in the store, they know how the goods are located so they know when they arrive and how to minimize their movement. So a lot of planning has been made into this. “

Barber said detectives have some solid leads.

“We have some potential customers, and we are reducing those customers now,” he said. “I’m hoping to get someone in jail before Christmas – hopefully before Black Friday.”

Updated at 5:30 p.m. with additional information.

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