Store Manager: Shoplifter Caught Red Handed

A woman who shoplifted from Flying Point Surf Boutique in Southampton Village on Monday was arrested Thursday evening when she returned to the shop and was caught with items stolen from another village retail store, according to the general manager.

The manager of the Main Street store, Mark Poremba, said that on Monday employees noticed that something was amiss, and they confirmed it when they checked the security video. Upon playing back the recording, they discovered that two women — a mother and daughter — had stolen about $1,800 worth of merchandise.

The women took turns distracting employees — for example, asking to try on a pair of shoes — while the other filled a bag with merchandise or layered clothing underneath the baggy clothes she came to the store wearing, Poremba said.

Poremba told other store managers on Main Street what happened Monday and gave them a description of the women, he said. When the pair came back to the store Thursday and employees recognized them, he called the police.

Police caught the mother with items she had stolen earlier Thursday evening from C. Wonder, a store a few doors down from Flying Point, Poremba said. The daughter was not found with any shoplifted items Thursday and was not arrested, but he said he expects her to be charged after police confirm she is the woman on Monday’s store security video.

Southampton Village and Southampton Town police were both on scene Thursday night.