Cameras catch heist of sports gear

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Not only did store cameras capture images of two guys stealing sports apparel, so did a guy in the parking lot.

In was early Monday afternoon when two supposed football fans went shopping yesterday afternoon at the House of Football on Eubank.

Store employees say the two spent almost 40 minutes trying on jerseys.  One security camera even caught one suspect checking himself out.

"They were just trying on stuff," Andrew Mackeyfill of House of Football said.  "They just said they wanted to look good."

The coat, several jerseys and caps rang up at $973.58, but when it came time to pay...

"One guy left and said he had to go to ATM to get some money," Mackeyfill said.  "Meanwhile I was waiting with the customer to make sure merchandise was still there."

That's when the thieves made their big move.

The guy at the counter asked if the clerks had any other jerseys to show him.  When the clerk left the counter, the second man grabbed all the stuff and took off with store workers right behind him.

Mackeyfill went straight to the getaway car:

"I opened the driver's door, and I was about to pull the guy out, but he had his seatbelt on so I couldn't pull him out," Mackeyfill told KRQE News 13.  "He was so desperate he almost hit a lady."

A Good Samaritan in the parking lot pulled out his camera and took a shot of the driver and another picture of the vehicle's license plate.

Store employees say the crooks were slick and quick to get away.          

"They had good friendly vibes," Mackeyfill said.  "They didn't look suspicious at all."

Albuquerque police are investigating the heist.  There is no word yet on whether they have identified the two suspects.