Security camera footage captures entire duration of break-in

Includes video report

By Kate Northrop

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Surveillance footage captured an unidentified thief forcing his way into a Michigan Lottery retailer and reportedly stealing thousands of dollars' worth of tickets before fleeing.

A man broke into a Sterling Heights Michigan Lottery retailer and ripped thousands of dollars' worth of lottery tickets from the cabinet within minutes.

On Sunday, June 14 at around 2:30 p.m., security cameras around and inside Frank's Chicken Deli & Pizza on Mound Road in Sterling Heights captured a scene that the store owner said he had never witnessed before.

A man wearing dark pants, a visor, and a Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions jersey was caught forcing his way into the building, a 2024 black Chevy Blazer parked outside.

Another camera feed shows the same unnamed man running to the lottery display cabinet behind the counter and pulling tickets from several books through different slots, sweeping up the ones that had fallen to the ground in his arms before making his escape.

The store owner told 7 News Detroit that he believes the value of the stolen scratch-off tickets was estimated between $5,000 and $10,000.

He was first notified about the break-in at around 3:30 p.m., about an hour after the incident occurred. The suspect had gotten inside by snapping off the door handle, the owner explained to the news station.

He had never seen the individual in the store, nor had he ever experienced anything like this before, 7 News Detroit heard from him in an interview.

The retailer owner said he noted the black vehicle was parked across the street before it approached the building.

A police investigation is allegedly ongoing, although there are unconfirmed reports that a suspect has been arrested.

VIDEO: Watch the surveillance video

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