An unknown male attempted to steal a cart full of groceries and store merchandise Monday night from Lander’s Safeway.
A store employee noticed the attempted theft and attempted to stop the subject. When the employee approached the man, he fled the store on foot, leaving the cart behind.
Employees said the groceries and merchandise the man attempted to steal totaled $468.37. Lander Police Department officers reviewed security footage earlier this week. We do not have an update as to whether or not they have any suspects at this time.
The would-be shoplifter comes just days after meetings featuring Lander and Riverton city officials, law enforcement, and business owners discussing security and how to prevent shoplifting.
Another security meeting for Fremont County business owners is set for early April.
Fremont County Attorney Patrick LeBrun recently posted publicly his support of the meetings, saying that he believes a crackdown on shoplifters is badly needed.
For the first time in my 10 years as a prosecutor in Fremont County, I believe real progress is being made in the battle against shoplifting. Recently our new city leaders and our new chiefs of police have been very strong in organizing our local businesses and citizens in this fight. It has become a team effort with action and a plan. Proven thieves are being trespassed from businesses at high levels, which is a strong deterrent. And the Courts are handing down stiff jail sentences to thieves that are caught returning after being trespassed. Just today in Court, I watched a convicted shoplifter sentenced to nearly 6 months in jail for returning to a local business from which she had been shoplifter trespassed. Regular meetings are being held in Riverton and Lander focusing on ending this epidemic and I think its working.”