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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More than a dozen thieves broke into a City Gear store on Lamar before dawn Thursday, getting away with about $15,000 in merchandise as two security officers watched.

It all happened in about two minutes. Police were called to the store in the Cherokee area for a report of a prowler at 3:10 a.m. When they arrived three minutes later, they found the front door shattered.

A security officer told officers she saw a white sedan pull into the lot at 2:40, apparently casing the store. Two more vehicles arrived a few minutes later.

Several suspects went into the store and ran out with boxes of items, loading them into the vehicles. The security officer took video of the incident with a cell phone.

Police said the video showed the theft involved about 13 suspects, two of whom appeared to be armed. No arrests have been made.

The same City Gear location was burglarized a little more than a week ago, when thieves stole about $10,000 in merchandise.

City Gear stores around Memphis have repeatedly been targets for bands of thieves. The company has said the thefts make business “unsustainable” and have asked to meet with local law enforcement about the problem.

The company’s CEO said in a statement following this theft:

  • The situation in the Memphis community with regard to crime is intolerable.  A handful of criminals are causing problems for all the citizens and business owners.  This is unacceptable.
  • Hibbett | City Gear is taking action to protect our employees and our property.  We implemented some non-lethal means such as canines, live camera monitoring with the MPD, funding Crime Stoppers, etc as stop gap measures until our city officials can take the actions necessary to regain control. 
  • But we cannot do this alone, so we are working closely with other business leaders, the District Attorney’s office, and the Memphis Police Department to enact some changes with an immediate impact.  We expect to have this plan finalized shortly and should be able to publicize it next week. 
  • Additionally, we are asking the Governor to make the augmented Tennessee Highway Patrol in Shelby County permanent. 
  • Together we can solve this problem in our community.  We need to come together and take action now.
Mike Longo, President and CEO Hibbett/City Gear

Meanwhile, if you know anything that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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