Tide Pod Bandit Sought In Belle Haven

BELLE HAVEN, VA—Police are seeking a Belle Haven shoplifter that made away Wednesday with Tide Pods, which have become a dangerous social media trend among teens.

The bandit got away with $155 in Tide Pod products from the Safeway at Belle Haven Shopping Center. No suspect description or surveillance footage was immediately available.

It is unclear if the crime is tied to the "Tide Pod Challenge," which has prompted a warning from agencies from law enforcement to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The social media trend involves teens purposely ingesting Tide Pods while recording a video for social media. The brightly-colored pods, which can resemble candy to some children, contain a highly toxic mix of ethanol, hydrogen and polymers that is far more dangerous when ingested than traditional laundry detergent.

At least 10 deaths have been attributed to the pods—those were accidental, unlike injuries to teens in the so-called challenge. The American Association of Poison Control Centers said that in 2017, there were more than 10,500 reported exposures to the highly concentrated detergent by children age 5 and younger. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

SEE ALSO: Tide Pod Challenge: 5 Things To Know About Dangerous Teen Craze

Residents with information on the incident should call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-411-TIPS or submit a tip online through Crime Solvers.

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