By Kisean Joseph
A Belmont business owner found himself in a confrontation with a repeat offender who targeted his establishment twice within a week, making off with hundreds of dollars’ worth of premium alcohol.
During an interview with Observer media, Ewart Thomas, the owner of Fresh and Easy Superette, said that his business was initially targeted on December 28, 2024, when a suspect methodically selected and stole several bottles of high-end liquor.
“Well, basically last Saturday, a young man came in and stole about $600 worth of alcohol like Hennessy Pure White,” Thomas said.
The stolen merchandise, which had a total value of EC $1,365, included three bottles of Hennessy valued at $220 each, one bottle of Bailey’s worth $179, one Hennessy Pure White priced at $330, and two bottles of Campari valued $98 each.
The situation escalated when the same suspect returned to the store on Saturday, January 4, 2025. “He came back this following Saturday again, trying to steal similar products. He had … two bottles of Campari and he was looking for a Black label,” Thomas explained. Alert members of staff recognised the perpetrator from the previous incident, causing Thomas to intervene.
The suspect’s attempt at discretion was notable, as Thomas described. “He had a bucket hat on his head, dark shades, and a bandana around his neck. That’s kind of how these guys are, trying to evade the cameras and everything else.”
When confronted, the situation took a potentially dangerous turn. “I brought him back and sat down and took his bag and searched for the two bottles of Campari. I told him I was going to call the police. By that time, he had a hammer in his bag,” Thomas revealed. The suspect claimed the hammer was for construction work, but Thomas remained skeptical given the circumstances.
The suspect, described as a slimly-built individual standing approximately 5’11” with a brown complexion, was wearing a gray shirt, blue shorts, and brown Timberland boots at the time of the incident. He managed to escape before law enforcement arrived, fleeing northward into nearby bushes.
Thomas emphasized the calculated nature of such retail criminals: “Not everybody that has a hoodie and a bandana around their neck and a bucket hat pulled over their head. You have to watch them guys a little closer. They try not to be picked up by cameras and try not to be spotted when they’re doing this kind of crime.”
The incident was captured on the store’s CCTV system and law enforcement is continuing their investigation.
No injuries were reported.
