Three juveniles have turned themselves in to Columbus Police Department after allegedly shoplifting more than $1,500 worth of items from Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Investigators asked for the public’s help last week seeking four individuals who entered the Highway 45 North store on May 20 and filled bags with Yeti coolers and other high-end items and left the store without paying in under six minutes. Police released stills and a video from the store’s surveillance cameras of the four suspects in hopes someone in the public could identify them.
While only three juveniles turned themselves in, police have identified and are looking for the fourth suspect, according to a CPD press release.
“I have to thank the local news media for their assistance on this,” CPD Chief Fred Shelton said in the release. “Between the news media and social media, the video file was seen over 40,000 times in three days and received over 200 comments on Facebook. The persons that turned themselves in told us that the constant airing of the videos and photos encouraged them to turn themselves in to the police. They got a lot of pressure from family and friends and they did the right thing by coming to the police station and meeting with detectives.”
Authorities did not identify the three suspects because they are juveniles. Their case is being handled through Lowndes County Youth Court.
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