Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Police Blotter | Shoplifters target beauty supply store

Editor’s note: The Blotter is written based on information provided by Gig Harbor Police , Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

Shoplifters who took more than $5,500 worth of merchandise from a beauty supply store in Gig Harbor this month either smell really good or (more likely) sold the items off for cash.

Shoplifters hit Ulta Beauty on Olympic Drive four times in the first six days of October. Three of the four may be related.

The incidents included: 

• A male suspect took over $1,650 worth of perfume on Oct. 1. The Gig Harbor Police report indicates the man took eight boxes of Sauvage perfume products, shoved them in a backpack and walked out around noon. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate him. 
• The next day, a man walked into the same store and took about $2,000 worth of goods. Officers didn’t locate a suspect that time, either.
• The third incident occurred Oct. 6, when two young men walked into the store and took some $1,000 worth of product. The two left in a vehicle officers believed was associated with at least the second incident. 

Ulta employees could give only vague descriptions of the suspects. It’s possible the same people were involved in all three of those thefts.

While an officer was investigating the third incident, a fourth occurred. The officer was reviewing security footage when an employee walked into the office and said a woman had taken about $1,200 worth of merchandise. The suspect escaped.

Shoplifters steal the craziest things

Pokemon cards continue to be a popular item for shoplifters. Thieves stole packets of the trading cards on several occasions in recent weeks at Gig Harbor-area stores.

Costco reported three suspects taking about $438 worth of Pikachus, Charizards and other pocket monsters On Oct. 1. Target employees told police a suspect took a few packs of the cards – along with clothes, food and video games – on Sept. 24 and 26. Target did not provide an estimated value of the items taken.

In both crimes, only vague descriptions of the suspects were available.

Pokemon cards are commonly sold or traded among the game’s legion of fans, making them a popular target of thieves.

Other oddities shoplifted recently:

• Two Sleep Number pillows from a Sleep Number store on Point Fosdick Drive, on the afternoon of Oct. 13.
• At least 16 pair of Nike and Puma shoes, worth a combined total of over $1,000, from Famous Footwear on Oct. 1  and Oct. 15.
• Two 24-packs of Modelo beer — and a handful of Tide pods — from Safeway on Point Fosdick on Oct. 2.
• 10 bags of insulation from Home Depot worth $3,200 on Oct. 3.  A Pierce County deputy apprehended two suspects driving a U-Haul van on Highway 16. 
• Four boxes of donated merchandise from the Goodwill donation box on Olympic Dive on Oct. 6. 
• Shampoo, body wash, deodorant and cologne from the Bartells drug store on Olympic Drive on Oct. 20. These suspects never left the parking lot and police apprehended them.