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OREM — Orem police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man and woman who allegedly stole several vacuums from Target.
The thefts occurred Sept. 19 around 4 p.m. at Target at 175 W. Center St., according to Lt. Craig Martinez. A man and woman “were working together” to steal several expensive vacuum cleaners, Martinez said. They were caught on video surveillance taking the vacuums out of the store in a shopping cart and were seen leaving the scene in a neon-green, 4-door Jeep Wrangler with black rims.
Martinez did not release the number of vacuums stolen but said the crime is a felony due to the dollar amount of merchandise stolen. The Orem Police Department posted the surveillance photos to its Facebook page and asked for the public’s help in identifying the thieves and locating the vehicle.
“Our biggest lead is obviously that car,” Martinez said. “This is one that sticks out. We are going to keep looking.”
Martinez said the Orem Police Department has started posting more pictures on social media of potential crime suspects and has had success with the public identifying them. He said within the last year, Orem police have located suspects in a dozen cases after receiving help from the public. On Tuesday, a man and woman turned themselves in to police after a family member recognized them in a photo posted on the Orem police Facebook page.
“(Posting photos and video) gives us tens of thousands of eyes rather than the 86 sworn officers we have,” Martinez said of the increased use of social media. “I think people in large (part) want to help and if they see somebody they know, they aren’t afraid to say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ ”
Anyone with information about the vacuum thefts can contact the Orem Police Department at 801-229-7070.
