$1K theft of Stanley cups in Gastonia part of apparent nationwide trend

GASTONIA, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — An apparent nationwide crime trend has now hit the Carolinas—the theft of Stanley Cup water bottles.

Investigators say two men just walked in and helped themselves, accused of stealing $1,350 worth of Stanley cups from the Academy Sports on East Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia last Friday afternoon.

A former FBI agent says the thefts are a way to make a quick buck, so stores must act fast to prevent the crime.

Their bags are stuffed full.

Gastonia police say the pair stole more than 30 Stanley cups valued at $45 each, thirsty for a fast and easy return.

“They’re (Stanley cups) expensive and they’re not big, and so they can grab a lot of them, and then the resale value is very high,” said M. Quentin Williams, a former FBI agent and federal prosecutor.

Police are working to track down the suspected thieves in Gastonia.

“We’ll see a lot more caution being taken by the retailer,” said Williams.

Stanley Cup thefts appear to be on the rise nationwide.

Early this year, police in Roseville, California, posted pictures of a haul on Facebook from a big theft.

Investigators arrested a woman accused of stealing $2500 worth of Stanley cups.

And just in the last several days, deputies in Nassau County, Florida, arrested four women charged with stealing champagne, lobster, and Stanley cups totaling about $5,000 from grocery and hardware stores.

“If they’re in the open, they’re not behind glass or bars, they have easy access to them as well,” said Williams.

Williams says stores will likely begin taking measures to prevent Stanley Cup thefts.

“You’re going to see them only put a couple out on display and then, if you want to buy them, you’ll ask them, and they’ll go and get it for you,” said Williams. “That way they mitigate the risk for everybody because these costs are passed along to the consumer.”

Williams says the thefts likely mean retailers will have to file more insurance claims, and that can lead to the stores having to pay higher insurance premiums, so that’s an incentive for them to take steps to prevent high dollar retail theft.

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