Video footage circulating on social media appears to show a group of bystanders trapping alleged shoplifters inside a retail store until police could arrive.
The alleged incident occurred at a Perfumania store at the Tanger Outlets in Nashville, Tennessee, according to WSMV. The alleged thieves entered the store and allegedly began stealing merchandise before bystanders took action to stop them from escaping. (RELATED: REPORT: TJ Maxx’s Employees Now Wearing Body Cameras To Catch Shoplifters)
A witness told the news outlet, “All of the sudden I hear [employees] start yelling, they saying, ‘Y’all can’t be in here.'”
He added, “So, I turned around and I see three or four people walk in with masks, hoodies on.”
The video footage, taken by the witness’s mother, shows a group of shoppers and store owners holding the door closed with the alleged burglars inside. “[They were] Trying to run around the store, break into the cash register, break through the glass, get all the cologne out of the shelves and stuff,” the witness said.
The group remained at the door until Metro Nashville Police arrived about 30 minutes later, according to WSMV. However, the suspects managed to break through the back of the store and escape.
Citizens in Nashville, Tennessee are so sick and tired of criminals getting away with ruining their city.
So these shoppers just locked shoplifters in the Tanger Outlets store they were robbing.
The people have had enough.pic.twitter.com/gnfmFg5Njb
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 5, 2024
The witness told reporters that these incidents are not uncommon and that members of the community have grown weary of the rash of retail thefts.
“And they [shoppers and store owners] said this happened a lot in their area, like in that mall,” he said. “The other people seemed really upset about it because they live in the area. They’re just upset that it happens so often.”
