A supermarket worker in Colorado was fired after he filmed at least three men stealing more than $500 in laundry detergent last month.
Santino Burrola, a former employee at King Soopers, began filming after he became aware of the theft in progress, according to a report.
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“When I looked there was already a guy halfway headed out with a food cart full of laundry detergents and scent boosters and what have you,” Burrola said. “My first instinct, record.”
He exited the store and caught up with the men as they were loading their black Chevy Trax with the stolen items.
One was pushing a basket of stolen goods into a back seat while another worked to unload a full shopping cart, the report noted.
“Really, bro, you got to resort to this?” Burrola, a former military police officer, said. “The economy isn’t that bad.”
“Better gettin’ while the gettin’s good.”
As the gang of thieves drove away, Burrola snatched the sheet of foil over the license plate, according to the report.
He then called police and later posted his footage to social media.
“So, I posted it on TikTok, hoping that somebody would recognize them,” Burrola said.
Upon returning to his shift, Burrola was informed that he was suspended, and, a week later, he was fired, the report noted.
“Me and the union rep sat down with them and they recommended termination,” he said.
“I would never let any criminal conduct slide, especially when it’s happening right in front of me.”
Burrola maintains he neither touched the suspects nor broke any rules.
“Did I feel that I overstepped boundaries? Not really because I didn’t physically touch them or alter their shoplifting in any way, I just revealed the license plate to help the community to be aware, the police be aware and to help better catch them,” he said.
King Soopers has a policy against its workers intervening in thefts, the chain said.
“We are disappointed by the increased level of crime across retail establishments and the impact these incidents have on our associates and customers,” a statement from King Soopers read. “We remain committed to working in partnership with local law enforcement to address this issue, as safety remains a top priority.”
“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.”
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“Investigators have already identified and arrested the driver, Jorge Pantoja, 32, the man in the green shirt,” a statement from the Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office read. “Pantoja is currently in custody at the Adams County Detention Facility on unrelated felony charges. He has also been charged with Theft/Shoplifting, a Class 2 Misdemeanor.”
The other two suspects are still being pursued by the authorities, according to the report.
