Crime & Safety
Facebook Followers Help ID Shoplifting Suspect Within Minutes
Gig Harbor police say this man was recorded while shoplifting from a farming business on Hunt Street around 8 a.m. Tuesday.
GIG HARBOR, WA — Gig Harbor police's social media followers reportedly helped identify a shoplifting suspect within 8 minutes of investigators sharing the man's photo on Facebook and Twitter Tuesday morning.
The alleged theft occurred around 8 a.m. at a store on Hunt Street, according to a Gig Harbor Detective Mike Allen. The suspect, a white male in his 30s, reportedly escaped in a white Kia Sorento SUV.
Surveillance images of the man were shared on the police department's social media accounts shortly before 11 a.m., and within minutes community members positively identified the man.
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Around 4:30 p.m., police announced the man had subsequently surrendered to authorities.
**UPDATE** Within eight minutes of our social media posts, this subject was identified. He has since turned himself in and is currently being booked into jail. Nice job, followers!
— Gig Harbor Police (@GigHarborPolice) July 16, 2019
Find out what's happening in Gig Harborfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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