Lottery tickets stolen from Grafton gas station

A rash of lottery ticket thefts is hitting the suburbs, but thieves hoping for a big score from the tickets are out of luck. According to its website, the Wisconsin Lottery voids all tickets reported stolen, which means the tickets — even if some are winners — cannot be redeemed for cash.

The thieves hit Citgo of Grafton, 1706 Wisconsin Ave., at about 9:37 a.m. Friday, March 9, walking away with more than $400 worth of $10 scratch-off lottery tickets.

Similar crimes have been reported in Menomonee Falls and West Allis recently.

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The theft wasn't discovered until early evening, when inventory was taken. The incident was reported to police the next morning.

The theft was caught on video. It shows a male and female entering the store, and while the female distracted the clerk, the male grabbed the tickets. The two then left the store.

They are described as white, the man about 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds, and the woman about 5 feet five inches tall and about 180 pounds.