Three men suspected of distracting a cashier and activating gift cards at a Santee Walmart were caught on surveillance video, and sheriff’s department officials have now released images of the alleged thieves in hopes that the public can help identify them.
Investigators say the men visited the Walmart at 170 Town Center Parkway on Oct. 25 and acted like they want to purchase eight Visa gift cards each loaded with $500.
During the check-out process, however, they distracted the cashier by asking for cigarettes.
When the employee left her station to get the requested items, one of the suspects reached around the register and pushed a key that loaded each of the cards with $500, according to a statement from the sheriff’s department.
The men fled the store with the gift cards and other merchandise valued at a total of $4,065 without paying for any of it, the statement continued. They were last seen leaving the store parking lot in an older model Ford Crown Victoria with no license plates. The car had a white front left fender and purple tinted windows.
All three suspects are described as black males in their 20s. Two of the suspects were wearing white Adidas shirts, and one was wearing a white Nike shirt.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspects or their vehicle is asked to call the sheriff’s Santee station at (619) 956-4000 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
–Staff
