A Colorado supermarket employee was allegedly fired after chasing down a group of shoplifters and recording them as they placed approximately $500 worth of merchandise into a vehicle.
Santino Burrola was working a shift at the King Soopers grocery store in Centennial on June 18 when he was alerted to a theft taking place in the store, CBS Colorado reported. “Sure enough when I looked there was a guy already half-headed out with a cart full of laundry detergent scent boosters what have you,” Burrola told the outlet, adding that his first instinct was to take out his phone and record the crime.
In the video, a group of three men can be seen quickly loading up the stolen merchandise into a dark-colored Chevrolet Trax as Burrola observes, “Really bro? You gotta resort to this? The economy’s not that bad.”
As the men close the hatch of the SUV, Burrola noted the suspects had covered the license plate with foil. As they attempt to drive away, Burrola can be seen reaching out and stripping off the foil, revealing the license plate number.
Supermarket employee fired for recording 3 men stealing $500 in laundry detergent https://t.co/nHxzaW6Qvl pic.twitter.com/GbAiDV7Ayc
— New York Post (@nypost) July 6, 2023
The video went viral after millions of viewers, including rapper/actor Snoop Dogg, shared it, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office revealed in a press release.
The video assisted the sheriff’s office in apprehending the driver of the vehicle, whom deputies identified as 32-year-old Jorge Pantoja. He was already in custody at the Adams County Detention Facility on unrelated felony charges and has since been charged with a class 2 misdemeanor for theft and shoplifting, the press release stated.
The other two suspects have not yet been identified, though Pantoja claimed he met them at a Light Rail station and offered them an opportunity to make some money. He claims the men told him their names were Robert and Bugsy, the sheriff’s office revealed.
Alhough Burrola’s video has assisted the police in finding the culprits responsible for the theft, he said his his pursuit of the suspects ultimately cost him his job. Following his pursuit, Burrola alleges King Soopers management suspended and eventually terminated him about a week later. Burrola explained the supermarket chain has a policy against employees intervening in a theft.
“I and the union rep sat down with them and they [King Soopers] recommended termination and so I got fired that day,” Burrola told CBS News.
“We have security measures in place to help prevent crime and de-escalate such confrontations to minimize the risk to our associates. While we are unable to comment on personnel matters, we value our hardworking associates and their safe return home,” Jessica Trowbridge, a corporate spokesperson for King Soopers revealed in a statement to the Daily Caller. (RELATED: ‘Let The Theft Occur’: Lululemon CEO Defends Firing Employees After Shoplifters Hit Store)
Burrola stated he hoped the store would change its policy and give power back to retail workers. “All I did was just record criminals and reveal them!” Burrola told CBS News.
Investigators are asking anyone who can identify the other two suspects from the video to contact the Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office.