Thieves target Newport cigarettes in five-city crime spree

WOODHAVEN, Mich. (WJBK) - Across five cities, police say two thieves robbed multiple convenience stores of tons of cigarettes. But it's not just what they were stealing - it's what they're wearing that caught police attention: a lot of very brightly colored Tigers gear

The two thieves were caught on camera at a convenience store in Woodhaven and it's not the only place they hit in their desire to get a nicotine fix. They're wanted in connection with robberies at gas stationes in St. Clair Shores, Taylor, Eastpoint, and Sterling Heights this summer.

Forget the cash. Police say they're interested in one thing and one thing only: Newport cigarettes. As many as they can get their hands on.

"He removed two small garbage bags and took them right from the garbage cans - he actually stuffed them in the garbage cans - just cartons of Newport cigarettes. That's what they seem to be targeting because the first cabinet he opened, they were Marlboros and he wasn't interested in the Marlboros, just the Newports," Woodhaven Det. Sgt. Scott Fraczek said.

With Detroit Tigers baseball hats, brightly colored pants, and even more sports logos on their clothes, they stand out, even in a city that's full of Tigers fans.

"They're definitely not trying to hide, they're standing out," Woodhaven Det. Sgt. Scott Fraczek said.

It's these surveilance images and gaudy clothing that may have helped police arrest these two suspects

"Tiger memorabilia salesmen is what they look like," Fraczek said.

The last place they hit in Woodhaven was directly across the street from the Woodhaven Police Department..

"If police would've stopped them the night they left our place, it would have been very easy to identity the guys in the red and orange pants, without question,"

Eastpointe Police said they took the suspects into custody Wednesday.