GULF BREEZE, Fla. (WKRG) — Employees of Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle said hundreds of dollars in goods were stolen from the store over the weekend.
Store manager Anmarie Wright said a couple stole knives, hats, pliers, and more Sunday evening. Wright said it’s disappointing the thefts happened so close to the holidays.
“It feels personal. I mean, I work hard. You see me in here seven days a week, so when I’m trying to get stuff on the isles to sell, my intention is not for that item to get stolen,” she said Monday. “Prices have to go up — you know, it’s a defeating feeling when you have grown adults coming in here and stealing from a family.”
Wright said the couple came in and walked separate ways. The man made a small purchase while the woman put items in her purse. In one frame of the footage, you can see the woman opening a box in the store.
Wright says she has seen behavior like this before around the holiday shopping season. A couple will come in, separate, and take pictures of potential items to steal.
“They share it with somebody who tells them obviously that’s a good item to steal,” she said.
Employees have told Gulf Breeze Police Department about the theft. If you have any information about the two people seen in the pictures below call 850-934-5121.
“I’m sure if they’re doing it to us, they’re doing it to a lot of other stores, so beware,” Wright said, warning other businesses. “With COVID, with the bridge closure (after Hurricane Sally), we’ve had our battles, so just having that, it’s kind of like a slap in the face.”
