Hastings man caught drinking vodka at store, then steals and eats smoked ham

Officers responded to a store in the 1700 block of Market Boulevard at 4:33 a.m. Aug. 13 on the report of stolen merchandise.

When officers arrived at the scene, they learned a middle-aged male in an orange sweatshirt had entered the store and was seen drinking from a vodka bottle while in the store. An employee at the store asked the man to stop drinking while in the store. Later, the same employee saw the man drinking again. She again told him to stop, and he ran away.

He was later seen near the deli meats. He made his way to the cash register, but never paid for the smoked ham. He left the store and was seen sitting on the curb outside the store eating the ham. He then left the area without paying for $4.59 worth of meat.

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