Jackson police seek comic book criminal
JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS) – Jackson Police are on the lookout for a comic book criminal who was caught on video breaking into a downtown storefront.
The break-in happened early Wednesday morning and the thief was caught on video – without a mask. While Nostalgia Ink owner Tim Stairs says the sticky-fingered bandit didn’t get away with much, but he did leave a mess.
“There was glass everywhere,” Stairs told 6 News. “The posters that were on the door were not lying on the ground. More than a fist-sized chunk of asphalt that he threw through the door.”
Surveillance video courtesy Nostalgia Ink. owner Tim Stairs.
Stairs said he discovered the aftermath of the break-in when he arrived early Wednesday morning to prepare for “New Comic Book Wednesday.”
“It’s our busiest day of the week,” he said. “You know, to start our day with cleaning up a break-in, is interesting.”
After calling in law enforcement and talking to the responding officers, Stair says he checked the shop’s security videos.
“We have him entering in, and then just kind of meandering around and looking like — I think he just didn’t know what he had broken into,” Stairs said of the bandit’s action caught on video. “Most of what he got was out of the kids’ section, golden age books, activity book coloring books. Fairly inconsequential for me in a comic bookstore, you know?”
Inconsequential or not, the break-in is under investigation by Jackson Police Department officials.
“Detectives and officers working together have been able to identify a suspect,” Jackson Police Department Deputy Chief Sergio Garcia told 6 News. “And are actively looking for him now. We’ll attempt to recover the stolen property. They will be charged with breaking and entering. We will continue to investigate, file a warrant request from the prosecutor’s office and hope to see felony charges for the break-in.”
Stairs said he had to fork out $650 to have his door repaired. He says he hopes with the release of the surveillance video not only will the individual be brought to justice, but his missing merchandise will be recovered.
“It’d be nice if we could have the merchandise returned,” he said. “Probably likely that he won’t make it too far without somebody spotting him and turning him in.”
As news of the break-in spread, Stairs says the community stepped up with support and many showed up for “New Comic Book Wednesday.”
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