Colella's catches 6 liquor thieves

in December alone

Above, a photo of a TV screen shot from one of many surveillance cameras trained on the liquor department in Colella's. In addition to the liquor department, the supermarket has cameras throughout the store.

by Robert Falcione

January 4, 2010 — Lamenting that it was some of their own customers who have ripped them off — at least the six who were caught in December alone — the owners of Colella's Supermarket, a 65 year-old family business, want to make it clear that they have adopted a zero-tolerance policy.

       "You steal, we will prosecute," is the theme that the owners and managers repeated in an interview last week. They did not identify anyone, because their aim is not to embarrass people, but to see that justice is done and to deter anyone who would consider shoplifting by letting them know they will be caught, and they will be prosecuted.

       Sandy (Colella) Varnum said, "They'll pay for a high-priced lawyer instead of paying for the alcohol. Some are still in he prosecution stage, and we want to see justice done.

       "Eric [Madson] does inventory every day, and knows when something is missing. So, if we don't see them walk out the door with it that day, which we often do, Eric rewinds the tape and watches the culprit taking the missing bottle," she said.

        "Diane [(Colella) McGrath] goes around and shows the photo to employees, and in every case, someone knows who the person is," he said.

        Mrs. Varnum said, "When we discover a theft has happened, everybody gets involved, employees and customers.

        "Nick [Danahy, family member] almost tackled one guy in the parking lot.

        "One guy came in on a bicycle, got caught stealing liquor, and begged for us not turn him in," she said. "We felt so bad."

        "It hasn't been the kids lately, it has been regular adult customers."

       "These people take the liquor and a candy bar and walk through the store, and by the time they reach the register, the liquor is nowhere in sight, and they end up paying for the candy bar. They are known to the employees and the community," said Marketing Director, Jen Shults.

        Mrs. Varnum said, "It isn't the kids — the word of our policy has spread among them — it is the well-dressed people with expensive clothes and cars. One woman made a dash toward her BMW SUV."

         "One woman who stole expensive vodka, bought some small canned goods. But while she browsed the aisles, she also helped herself to some cherry tomatoes, a banana and an apple," said Mrs.. Varnum.

       "These are professional, white collar people who know how to steal," said Mrs. Shults. "And they aren't strangers, they are people in the community."

        Mrs. McGrath said, "One guy came in like clockwork, so we waited for him."

       General Manger Dale (Colella) Danahy summed it up.

      "Theft increases the cost of doing business.

      "We paid $100,000 in debit and credit card fees alone last year," she said.  

      Her sister Diane added, "We try very hard to keep prices down."