Cops Try to Pop Gum Theft Ring
By JOE PIRANEO
Updated 8:15 AM EST, Mon, Nov 9, 2009
Thieves are turning to gum to make some extra pocket cash.
Police departments across the state are seeing a rise in gum shoplifting, according to the Hartford Courant.
"We've had a number of larceny cases recently involving thefts of substantial amounts of chewing gum," New Britain State's Attorney Scott Murphy told the Courant. "What the motive is, we don't know. But gum thefts are increasing."
Since we fancy ourselves on top of the trends here, we'll point out our report that the gum thievery bubble first burst onto the Connecticut scene in March, when police in Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stratford charged Kenneth McManus, 21, of Stratford, with shoplifting $800 worth of Orbit chewing gum from stores in each city.
Police in West Hartford have also investigated several gum thefts including one earlier this month, when an Enfield man was charged with stealing $175 in chewing gum from Shaw's supermarket on Kane Street, reports the Courant.
There's an entire black market all across Connecticut, where people sell stolen merchandise on the street and to businesses," Fairfield Sgt. James Perez told the Courant. "People peddle stolen meat, fish, candy, gum, almost anything."
First Published: Nov 9, 2009 7:50 AM EST
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