The brazen way in which a man allegedly stole video game controllers from multiple metro Atlanta Target stores even surprised police officers, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“There was a male moving throughout their store with what appeared to be a box cutter opening up game controllers from X-boxes, Play Station Ones, things of that nature,” Johns Creek police spokesman Capt. Chris Byers told the news station.
When cops caught up with Jonathan Ruiz, 34, on Oct. 13, he had more than 20 controllers in his car, according to the police report.
“I pulled my vehicle in front of his and told him to get out of the vehicle,” an officer wrote in the report. “Ruiz stated, ‘I didn’t even taken nothin.’”
That officer quickly learned Ruiz was wanted in Peachtree City and Fayetteville on shoplifting charges.
Byers told Channel 2 that Ruiz was wanted in connection with at least six other shoplifting cases — all from metro Atlanta Target stores.
Ruiz had a knife in his possession when pulled over by the Johns Creek officer, according to the police report. He told the officer he had thought about taking controllers but decided against it after he’d had them out of the packages and in his pockets. Ruiz claimed he left the store without merchandise, the officer wrote.
After arresting Ruiz and impounding his car, the officer wrote in the report that four Beats By Dre headphones and 26 game controllers were found in a bookbag in Ruiz’s car.
Police believe Ruiz stole more than $10,000 in merchandise, according to the report. Officers weren’t sure exactly which items came from which Target stores.
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