CYPRESS, Texas – A business owner in Cypress hopes surveillance video helps police catch a thief who stole hundreds of dollars of merchandise from her store.
Melissa Pontiff owns Suburban Girl, located at 12320 Barker Cypress Road in the Randalls Shopping Center. She said the thief came in looking for Mother's Day gift ideas but instead stuffed his pockets with whatever he could.
Surveillance video showed the thief, wearing a collared shirt and khakis, walk around the store twice.
"I could not believe the amount of stuff he stuffed in his pockets," said Pontiff. "I was like, 'Are pockets that big?' I couldn't believe it."
Pontiff said the thief had been at the store before, often telling employees he was meeting his wife for lunch nearby.
Pontiff said they usually noticed things were missing a few days after his visits, but this time he emptied a display case. She estimated he stole $500 of merchandise within 15 minutes.
"We're a small business. When people steal, it hurts the employees, it hurts the community, it hurts me as a business owner. My first instinct was -- I was angry," said Pontiff.
Pontiff showed the video to nearby business owners, hoping they'd recognize the thief. She said he left the shopping center in a dark-grey Toyota Camry.
Pontiff filed a police report with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Anyone who recognizes the thief is asked to call HCSO at 713-221-6000.