California police are looking for a pair of thieves accused of stealing from two Fresno-area Target stores, before calling the store to complain about security.
“We usually don’t get cases where the person who robbed the store calls back and then asked to speak to store security where they complain about the fact that they were stopped,” Sgt. Mark Hudson of the Fresno Police Department told KSEE.
Footage from store CCTV cameras show 43-year-old Derek Anthony and 35-year-old Marie Guazon leaving the store carrying two pillows and a bag filled with printer ink cartridges.
Security officers are then seen swarming the two suspects.
Anthony wrestles with two of the guards before lifting his shirt to reveal a pistol in his waistband.
The guards let the thieves go, who fled in a silver Mercedes SUV.
Police were able to identify the suspects after the man allegedly called the store to complain about how they were treated by security.
“After the robbery at the Shaw and Marks store Anthony calls back to the store and complains to the store security there that they stopped them for the theft,” Hudson said.
Security saved the phone number used to make the complaint and handed it over to police, who traced it back to the couple.
Police said after the initial theft the pair drove across town and robbed another Target location across town, stealing more ink cartridges.
Authorities say more than US $700 in ink was stolen.