Amherst Co. Thieves Steal Hundreds of Cartons of Cigarettes

In this week's Crime Stoppers report, an Amherst County business is hoping you'll help find a group of thieves who have a thing for cigarettes.

They took nearly 300 cartons from a Quality Foods distribution center last week. The haul is valued at almost $12,000.

The whole thing was caught on surveillance video, and it appears as though they knew what they were doing. The suspects worked extremely hard to hide their identities, wearing black hoodies with masks and white gloves. They snuck in under the cover of night, around 2:30 in the morning.

Managers and investigators are thinking it could be an inside job.

"This is major here, this was a thought-out plan," said Thomas Carter, Quality Foods, Inc. Operations Manager.

In just 13 minutes, they carried out about 800 cartons of cigarettes.

"Hauling three cases of cigarettes at a time, that's 90 cartons of cigarettes in those boxes," said Carter.

Charles Lewis was the first to discover the theft, when he came into work.

"I haven't seen nothing like it," said Lewis, Quality Foods, Inc. Transportation Director.

He calls it a scene out of a movie.

"I mean I never thought that I would have, you know, guys in black suits and white gloves just probably sitting there watching me," said Lewis.

Turns out, Lewis likely scared them off. And they left behind 500 cartons of cigarettes in the woods.

Their other mistake, came when one suspect looks directly into the camera. Managers are still trying to identify him, and any connection he might have with current employees.

"These individuals know what time to hit, they know what time they've got to be out and they also know which trucks the cigarettes are on," said Carter.

Some Quality Foods workers call the theft personal, a crime that's taken money out of their pockets.

"It takes away from our employees that work hard here everyday. You know, of course we have to make up for the money we've lost and add extra security," said Carter.

"I want them done. I want this thing done, finished," said Lewis.

Only three suspects were caught on camera, but investigators think several others could have been helping them.

If you know anything about this crime or recently noticed someone with large quantities of cigarettes, contact Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900. It could earn you up to $1,000 and it's always anonymous.