Suspects in Newport News were caught stealing
They’re stealing loads of liquid laundry detergent.
Cameras caught their attempt at a clean getaway from a Jefferson Avenue Dollar General last month.
Newport News detective Matthew Jerasa says the number of these dirty crimes is bubbling up.
They’ve had four “tide” thefts in the last three months.
Compare that to four all of last year.
Cops say crooks are trading tide for drugs and they are selling it on the black market for cash.
“There's no serial numbers on it. There's really no way to trace it to what store it came from,” says Jerasa.
At Game's Farmer's Market, folks say a man stole more than 20 bottles of Tide then high tailed it out of the parking lot.
“He just loaded up the cart and rolled it right out of the store,” says James Scott, an employee.
He says he couldn't believe it last summer.
Scott did a double take at the prices and to him, it seems crooks are capitalizing on a bad economy and a common bond.
“It doesn’t matter if you're rich or poor, people are gonna wash clothes,”
Cops don't know if the man from the Farmer's Market is connected to the guys in the video.
Police have identified one of the men as Ricky Jordan Black.
There's a warrant out for his arrest, but they are not sure who the other men in the video are.
If you know anything that can turn the tide against these bad guys, call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
