In a matter of minutes, the Raceway convenience store on Troy Highway went from being nearly empty Monday night to being overrun by a horde of apparent teens stealing anything within reach.

It was the third station in two days to be burglarized like that.

The suspects trickled in slowly at first, grabbing items close to the doors then fleeing, according to video footage of the thefts. About a minute into the incident one person held the door open as a horde of girls and boys in bathing suits grabbed cases of beer. An employee with a push broom tried to stop them but was too overwhelmed.

"It took everyone by surprise and it's really concerning," Bharat Patel said Tuesday afternoon. "They can't keep getting away with it."

Patel's convenience store was the last store to be burglarized after the Chevron on West South Boulevard was hit Sunday night and the Raceway on Eastern Boulevard was hit both Sunday and Monday, according to Patel.

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Each time, a few people come in first, then it's a free for all as the young people run in and out hauling hundreds of dollars of beer and snacks. It's putting gas station owners on edge, Patel said.

"My first concern is my employee's safety," he said. "If they don't get caught, if they don't face consequences I'm concerned they'll get more bold, try to come behind the counter and that someone might get hurt."

While the loss of product is frustrating, Patel said, he's more worried about losing customers.

"They rode in and blocked everyone who was here in," he said. "People see a lot of activity like that and we could get a bad reputation. That's where we'll lose most of our money."

Patel said one girl was caught by his security guard and held until police arrived.

"She was not grabbing anything, but they were putting things in her car," he said. "Police did take her away to the station."

Montgomery police Capt. Regina Duckett said 20-year-old Alima Hunter was charged with fourth-degree theft following the shoplifting at the Troy Highway store.

Until the culprits are caught, Patel said he hopes to see more police in the area, and his employees will be taking extra precautions to avoid another incident.

"I always tell my employees not to fight, but I've told them if they notice a lot of cars pull up at once, they can lock the doors and let a few in at a time if it would make them more comfortable," he said.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kirsten Fiscus at 334-318-1798 or KFiscus@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KDFiscus