Team Of Thieves Steals Items From Oxford Grocery Store: Police

OXFORD, CT — A group of thieves stole an undisclosed amount of food and other items early Tuesday from the Market 32 grocery store in the Quarry Walk Plaza on Oxford Road in Oxford, and authorities are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects.

A video of the 6:40 a.m. incident has circulated on social media, authorities said, but no emergency 911 call was ever made.

"The Oxford Resident Trooper’s Office is aware of a video of the incident that has been circulating on social media," authorities said. "This office has received a copy of the video and is working with asset protection personnel to obtain additional surveillance camera footage in an effort to identify the people involved."

According to state police, the incident began when "store personnel observed several people within the store filling multiple shopping carts," and the manner in which the suspects were loading the carts alarmed the staff.

"The individuals subsequently left the store without paying for the items, loaded them into two awaiting vehicles parked in the fire lane, and fled the area," state police said. "As of this time, the identities of these individuals is unknown and it is believed that the vehicles they were traveling in were stolen."

How many people were involved in the theft, what was taken and the make or models of the possibly stolen getaway vehicles were not disclosed.

While the video may prove helpful, state police said an emergency 911 call also could have helped.

"This office understands the optics of the video," state police said. "We would like to remind everyone that when they observe a crime in progress, contact 911 immediately. A 911 call was never placed and the call came in through the routine phone line at the Oxford Resident Trooper’s Office approximately 10-minutes after the crime had already occurred. Had 911 been contacted in a timely manner, police personnel would have been able to attempt to intercept those involved. We would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant and not to engage with people like this when a crime is occurring."

Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the ongoing investigation, state police said, and anyone with any information about the incident or the suspects is urged to contact the Oxford Resident Trooper’s Office at 203-888-4353. Callers should reference case number 2100460035.