Shoplifter threatens guard, escapes in car

STAFF REPORT

BOARDMAN — Police are investigating a report of a shoplifter who threatened to harm a store security officer.

The security officer at Sears, Southern Park Mall, told police that a man selected 12 pairs of work pants, valued at about $300, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. When the man came out of a dressing room, the officer saw the man had stuffed the pants under his shirt. He then started to walk out of the store without paying.

The guard stopped the man outside and initially the man was cooperative, but the man then told the security officer that he had something in his pocket that the officer didn’t “want to get poked with” and placed his hand in his pocket, a police report said.

The store employee backed off and the man got into his car, but the security officer prevented the man from closing the door. When the car moved, the security officer was struck by the door as the man drove off.