Two Men Busted for Stealing More Than $2,700 in Video Games

arrested two men on Tuesday after they received a tip from security guards regarding shoplifters who had been stealing more than $2,000 worth of video games from the Gig Harbor store since Nov. 21. They also believed the thieves were reselling the stolen games at local game stores and pawn shops.

Costco security officers, who originally contacted police on Monday, Dec. 5, called authorities again on Tuesday around 6:30 p.m. after the same 22-year-old man, who did not have a Costco membership, walked in the store with a possible accomplice. The guards also witnessed the two conceal video games under their shirts.

Once police arrived, they stopped the men as they were leaving the store without paying the items.

Officials found six Wii and Xbox 360 video games in the suspect's pants waistband. The other 21-year-old male suspect had three in his pants.

According to police, the 21-year-old man said he had lost his job two weeks ago and needed money. He also told police that he and the 22-year-old suspect went to Gig Harbor and Tacoma Costco four or five times within the past two weeks to steal video games for money.

Police believe the two are responsible for shoplifting about 70 games, worth $2,400 in total, and reselling them at local pawn shops and game stores.

They were both booked into Pierce County Jail for two counts of organized retail theft.