A tip from an out-of-town cop helped Gwinnett County police identify the teen accused of stealing $2,000 in sunglasses from a Mall of Georgia shop three weeks earlier.
Gwinnett police said Tuesday they think 17-year-old Ouentaeious Shemao Gray, of Athens, is their suspect.
Investigators took out a warrant for him on a felony charge of shoplifting. Cpl. Michele Pihera, Gwinnett police spokeswoman, said he will be charged as an adult.
She said that the tipster is a cop from Athens-Clarke County who recognized the teen from surveillance footage aired on an Atlanta television news program and he knew the suspect by name.
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Gray is accused of stealing five pairs of high-end sunglasses from a Sunglasses Hut on Nov. 4. Police said they are also looking for a woman whose “level of involvement is not known at this time.”
Investigators wrote in the initial report that the male suspect had been in the store with a woman and “looked around” before leaving with nothing. The pair was last seen in a blue Honda Accord.
On Nov. 4, he allegedly walked into a Sunglasses Hut and quickly grabbed the glasses — estimated at a value of $2,025 — then put them in an H&M bag while the employees were distracted, according to a Gwinnett County police report.
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
Credit: Gwinnett County Police Department
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Workers at the store described the suspect as wearing glasses that were “extremely thick like a ‘Coke bottle.’”
The culprit made off with four pairs of Gucci glasses and one Versace set.
Anyone with information can call detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters can contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.
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