Chesterfield Cops Arrest Fine Wine Thief

A Chesterfield man has been arrested for a series of thefts from the area's grocery stores that involve some quick hands and a few bottles of wine at the self-service checkout.

Warrants were issued on July 17 for Douglas Temke, 41, of Chesterfield, who has been charged with one count of felony stealing and one count of misdemeanor theft, according to Chesterfield Police. 

Police said that on several occasions at several different grocery stores, Temke scanned in a single cheap bottle of wine multiple times and then took a more expensive bottle in its place, police said. 

The first instance occurred sometime between the afternoon of May 13 and the morning of May 14 at the Schnucks off of Olive Boulevard with the second taking place sometime between May 15 and June 2 at the Dierbergs on Clarkson Road.

Temke's total take from the grocery stores is estimated to be about $4,000 worth of wine, according to a report on KMOX. 

The article also noted that an increase in shoplifting at self-checkout lanes nationwide has prompted some stores to shut them down.