Thief uses bees (buzz-buzz-buzz) to rob K-mart

The Sedalia Democrat ^ | Wednesday, June 11, 2003 | JACK TYNAN

[yankeedame]

From the Wednesday, June 11, 2003 issue

Thief uses bees to sting Kmart

BY JACK TYNAN
The Sedalia Democrat

Employees at the Sedalia Kmart were left to fight off a restroom full of bees as a thief made off with about $60 in stolen goods Monday.

The Sedalia Police Department received a phone call at 4:18 p.m. from a staff member at the Kmart store, at 1400 S. Limit Ave., who reported that a man had concealed several stolen items while in the men's bathroom.

It appears the man then released about 100 bees, apparently small honeybees, in the room and fled the store in the commotion that followed, according to police reports.

"I'm sure it was so we'll be more concerned about the bees than about anything else," said store Manager Lancy Ulrich.

A customer found the bees and reported them to a staff member, Mrs. Ulrich said. Staff then took insecticides off store shelves and killed the bees.

"We just set off a couple (bug) bombs in there and killed them," said Mrs. Ulrich.

No other customers were aware of the incident.

"We do have associates here who are allergic to bees," said Mrs. Ulrich. "I'm sure if a customer went in there that was allergic to bees it would be a dangerous situation."

Staff members suspect the thief made off with $61.48 in stolen merchandise.

Because of the confusion, witnesses were unable to offer a detailed description of the suspect, only that he is a white man in his early to mid-20s, police said.

jacktynan@sedaliademocrat.com

[Polybius]

.....as a thief made off with about $60 in stolen goods

At K-mart, $60 worth of goods must have filled up the back of a pickup truck.

[buffyt]

Glad it wasn't red wasps in my local WalMart. Allergy doctor told me that my last reaction to a red wasp sting was so severe that two more stings and I am dead. I am severly allergic to them. I have only been stung 3 times. Once when I was about 12, once when I was about 25 and again a couple of years ago. Last time it stung my leg and that leg swelled up huge, red, hot, painful. Doc said next time it will be my whole body. Then the next time after that, IF I am stung again, he said I will die before I get to a hospital. I can't use epinephrine shots for allergy attacks because of my heart disease. So I avoid red wasps. I keep fly swatters around. I keep hornet and wasp poison spray at the back door. I wonder if that bee theif realizes that some people are violently allergic to bee stings too???? He could cause a death and then they would look for him till they find him!

[Lee Heggy]

Sedalia....State Fair, Scott Joplin and 'gooberburgers'. What a town.

[TomServo]

Already posted here.

[boris]

Can't they gradually desensitize you by giving multiple low-concentration doses of venom?...

This would seem to be a wise precaution.

--Boris

[vannrox]

Thinking outside the box.

[4mycountry]

>>>Staff members suspect the thief made off with $61.48 in stolen merchandise.

Going for the gold, was he?

[dark_lord]

Staff members suspect the thief made off with $61.48 in stolen merchandise.

Now how the heck do they know exactly what he stole? A telltale clue:

a staff member at the Kmart store...reported that a man had concealed several stolen items while in the men's bathroom

So how did they know this? To this level of detail? The only conclusion I can come to is they have spy cameras in the bathroom. That way they could look at the videotape and identify each and every item, and then price them. So the next time you men feel the need to "go" at Kmart, be sure to turn around and give a "wave" or two at the camera!

:-)

[Ramius]

Interesting point.

It's also possible, though, that he left behind the packaging of the items when he stuffed them in his clothing.

[luckodeirish]

Two bees, or not two bees, that is the question.