Chip, beer bandit hits two Kroger stores

Two Bloomfield Township Kroger stores were hit by presumably the same thief stealing bags of chips and cases of beer on Saturday, March 14. Bloomfield Township police officers responded to the Kroger at 3600 W. Maple at Lahser at approximately 2 p.m. for a retail fraud complaint. The manager told officers the suspect, described as a six-foot tall black male with glasses, left the store with two cases of beer and several bags of chips without paying for them. The suspect was seen leaving in a gray GMC SUV going north on Lahser Road. Officers were then called to the Kroger store at 4099 Telegraph Road at Long Lake at approximately 2:25 p.m. on another retail fraud complaint. The store manager stated employees at the grocery store recognized a suspect from previous retail frauds enter the store and fill a cart full of merchandise, including chips and beer. Employees then observed him conceal the items under a newspaper and attempt to leave the store. However, the suspect discovered he was being watched and left the store without the merchandise. The manager provided a description of the suspect, and police believe the suspect is the same in both incidents. Officers located the suspect leaving the parking lot in a GMC Yukon. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but were unsuccessful. Bloomfield Township police said both cases are under investigation.