Tory Thomas (via NOPD)
Tory Thomas, 43, allegedly stole 19 cartons of cigarettes and $150 in coins from the K&T Community Store in the 3700 block of South Claiborne on June 12, NOPD Sgt. Warren Keller said at the weekly meeting of Second District ranking officers. Thomas was later identified through surveillance video, as well as through property he left behind, the release states.
Thomas came in through the ceiling of the store and dropped a black pad with his personal information in it while doing so, Keller said. Thomas probably got in through a vent on the roof of the store, Lt. Doug Eckert said.
The same store was broken into a second time last week, around 11 a.m. June 20, and Thomas is a suspect in that case as well, investigators said. The suspect in that case took a 12 pack of orange soda from the store, Keller said.
“We haven’t confirmed it yet, but we do believe he is responsible for this as well,” Keller said.
The suspect in the second case approached the store’s surveillance camera and punched it off of the mount, but police were able to get a few still shots of the suspect, Keller said. In the video, police could identify that the suspect had tattoos of his name on both of his arms, Keller said.
Thomas was on parole at the time of the first burglary, Keller said.
Anyone with information about his location is urged to call the Second District station at 658-6421 to speak to Detective Robert Rigamer, or to call CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.
