ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsCrime Stoppers Dec. 20: Accused booze bandit; Fultondale theft

*Surveillance video from these cases will be seen Tuesday night on ABC 33/40 News at 10:00 and again Wednesday on Good Morning Alabama.  The video will be uploaded to our main site Wednesday morning.*

Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips to help detectives identify and locate suspects in two new cases.

Details on both cases are below.

ACCUSED BOOZE BANDIT:  He made no effort to disguise himself.  He did not have an elaborate plan.  Instead, detectives said a man simply grabbed a couple half-gallons of Hennessy cognac at an ABC liquor store in Birmingham, looked at the clerk on his way out, and just walked off without paying.

"He just blows off the cashier like, 'I'm good,' and has nothing to do with her," Jefferson County Sergeant Brian Allison said.

The suspect is accused of thefts at ABC stores along 7th Avenue South and Finley Boulevard in Birmingham.

"He had tried to sell one of the bottles of Hennessy to a gas station clerk on Finley Boulevard.  That indicates to us that he is probably not looking to take this to a Christmas party.  He's not looking to give this (as gifts).  He's looking to sell it and make some quick cash," Allison said.

The suspect is pictured to the above right of this article.  Anyone who can help identify the man is urged to give a tip to Crime Stoppers at the contact information below.  Rest assured, all calls are kept anonymous, and a cash reward is offered for the first tip leading to the man's arrest.

FULTONDALE, LEEDS THEFTS:  Surveillance video shows two women who detectives believe are connected to a theft that took place inside a Fultondale grocery store.  In that theft, detectives said a woman's purse was stolen out of her shopping cart at a grocery store.  Within moments, a female suspect wearing white (pictured, above right), was seen shopping at a nearby department store using a credit card that was lifted out of the purse.

A while later, detectives said the same suspect tried to use the credit card at Walmart in Leeds.  Also, a woman in blue (pictured, above right), was seen at that same Walmart trying to use the credit card, detectives said.  By then, the card had been canceled by the victim.

Detectives noted that the women appeared calm and casual in the video.  Police said that suggested the women could be experienced thieves.

"They're not excited; they're not upset.  They're not checking to see if anybody's following them," Fultondale Detective Allen Rogers said.  "They know what they're doing.  This is not their first rodeo."

Rogers said the woman in white also stole another purse from someone else inside the Leeds Walmart.  The woman is accused of using a credit card from that purse in another transaction at the Walmart as well.

Detectives said at some point, at least one of the women was able to buy gift cards using one of the stolen credit cards.  Those gift cards were later redeemed at stores in Prattville and Montgomery.

Crime Stoppers hopes someone can recognize the suspects and provide an anonymous tip identifying one, or both, of the women.

"There's a good living for them to make until they get caught, and we will catch them," Rogers said.

TO OFFER A TIP ON EITHER CASE:  Call Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.

Also, you can text 7777, along with your tip, to the word "CRIMES."  Or if you prefer to send an encrypted tip online, go to www.birminghamcrimestoppers.org and click on the "submit an online tip" link.

No matter which method you choose, you will remain anonymous.  Each tipster receives a private code number.  If an arrest is made based on an individual's tip, the tipster can use the code number to claim a cash reward.

Crime Stoppers cannot call tipsters to testify in court.

Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is a partnership between local law enforcement, the Birmingham Business Alliance and ABC 33/40.  Together, our goal is to make our community a safer place to live and work.