PantsStore1.PNG

The Pants Store in Mountain Brook is trying to identify this woman after they say she stole about $500 worth of clothing during the store's Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 8.

(The Pants Store)

UPDATE: The store owners say they have a possible ID on the shoplifting suspect and now are working with Mountain Brook police.

Previous:

The owners of a Mountain Brook clothing store don't mess around when it comes to shoplifting.

Just Thursday, while the Pants Store in Crestline was holding its annual Holiday Open House, a woman entered the store presumably to take advantage of the hot deals being offered, and perhaps partake of the refreshments and beverages on hand.

Instead, said co-owner John Gee, the shopper walked out with a whole lot more. Specifically, about $500 worth of designer shoes and clothing.

Gee and the Pants Store didn't get mad, well not too mad. They decided to get even instead.

They posted a surveillance photo of the woman on Facebook, along with this hilarious message: "Hi! Do you know me? Today while Pants Store was rolling out great deals and refreshments at their annual holiday open house, I was wearing out shoes, designer jeans, and a variety of other great clothes that I did not pay for. Did you know Pants Store had 16 cameras watching me and caught it all on video??? I didn't either! So please like and share this post so somebody can collect the $100 cash award so the Pants Store will prosecute me and make sure I pay for things for now on. Call us at 868-1616 or email sales@pantsstore.com if you know who I am. Thanks and Happy Holidays!!"

Gee said the woman stole a pair of $150 shoes, a pair of $160 pants, and left with a purse full of other items they haven't yet been able to fully inventory. She wore her new designer shoes and pants out of the store, but was mindful to take her old clothes with her. She did, however, leave behind her bra.

Store workers discovered the theft when they found the empty shoe box in the dressing room. Gee said they then looked at the surveillance video and saw the entire theft was caught on camera.

Don't misunderstand - Gee wants to catch the suspected thief, but knows that she might get no more than the proverbial "slap on the wrist" for her infraction.

"If we do catch these shoplifters, nothing usually happens to them other than it might be a bad day,'' Gee said. "All we try to do is shame the hell out of them."

Hence the Facebook post. "We do it to let people know we're going to embarrass you,'' he said, "and to let people know you can't come into The Pants Store and steal."