EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Police in Edwardsville hope a viral TikTok video will help them apprehend a pair of suspected shoplifters. A third person has already been arrested after apparently getting locked out of the getaway car.
The incident happened Saturday around 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot outside of Hibbett’s Sports on Troy Road.
Police say three women went into Hibbett’s Sporting Goods on Troy. One of the store employees thought one of the women looked familiar, like someone who had stolen from the store in the past. The employees called the police. Officers were on the lot when the women came out.
“These individuals exited the building with basically a handful of clothes, each of them, and ran to a vehicle parked nearby,” said Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback. “One of the individuals was unable to get in the vehicle. The video shows that.”
You can see the video here. It contains some content that may not be appropriate for all viewers.
The video also shows something else that greatly concerns police. A shopper has to step out of the way of the speeding getaway car, which nearly crashes into an oncoming vehicle: an Edwardsville Police vehicle.
“Bottom lines is, it could have had dire consequences for somebody just out shopping with their kids or something,” Fillback said.
The third woman ran after the car and then dropped the clothes she was carrying as officers chased after her. She gave up running after a short distance.
The video already has millions of views on TikTok.
After seeing the video, Sara Burns and Stephanie Nishwitz were glad police recovered at least a portion of the clothing and captured one of the suspects. They were also glad they weren’t in the parking lot when it happened.
“There’s always little kids running around throughout here, too,” Nishwitz said. “(The suspects) were just looking to get away. That could have ended any which way.”
Burns added, “They’re lucky they didn’t hit a small child in the parking lot.”
In the meantime, the woman is currently in police custody at the Madison County Jail. Edwardsville Police are meeting with the Illinois State Attorney’s Office to seek a felony charge for theft. She is currently wanted in Missouri for failure to appear in court for theft charges.
Investigators are still looking for the other two suspects, along with the getaway car: a grey Ford Fusion.
If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Edwardsville Police Department at 618-656-2131.
