CLAYTON, Mo. – A man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in high-priced merchandise from stores across St. Louis County over a five-month period.

According to probable statements from the Chesterfield, St. Peters, and Frontenac police departments, Carl L. Griffin Jr. (age not disclosed) stole more than $10,000 worth of sunglasses, shoes, handbags, and other merchandise.

Chesterfield police said the first incident occurred on February 12 at the Sunglasses Hut at St. Louis Premium Outlets. Griffin and others walked around the store, selected five pairs of sunglasses from displays, and hid them in their clothing before leaving the store. The total value of the sunglasses was $2,131.

On March 3, Griffin returned to the Sunglasses Hut, according to police, and stole three pairs of sunglasses, worth a total of $1,212. He hid them in a bag he was carrying and left the store. The theft was caught on surveillance video.

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Weeks later, St. Peters police said Griffin went to the Sunglasses Hut inside Mid Rivers Mall on the afternoon of May 5 and stole four pairs of sunglasses. Officers reviewed security footage and observed Griffin taking the glasses and hiding them inside a brown bag he’d carried into the store. Additional surveillance video from the mall shows Griffin leaving the premises after stealing the sunglasses. The stolen sunglasses were valued at $1,831.

On June 26 and June 27, Frontenac police said Griffin went to the Coach store at Plaza Frontenac and stole $125 and $604.50 worth of merchandise, respectively, on those days. On that second day, police located Griffin inside the Neiman Marcus store and attempted to arrest him. Griffin swung a shopping bag at officers before running off. Griffin was eventually apprehended inside Pottery Barn. Police later learned Griffin had already stolen $4,380 in merchandise from the Neiman Marcus store that same day.

Police said Griffin admitted to stealing from the stores.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Griffin with three counts of stealing – $750 or more, two counts of stealing, three counts of fourth-degree assault, and one count of resisting arrest. The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Griffin with an additional count of stealing – $750 or more.

Griffin was issued two separate criminal summonses to appear in St. Louis County Circuit Court on July 31 and August 27, respectively. An arrest warrant was issued, along with a $75,000 bond, for the thefts in Frontenac. A warrant has also been issued in St. Charles County Circuit Court with a $10,000 bond.

According to court documents, Griffin has home addresses in Bellefontaine Neighbors and in St. Louis City.

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