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Women caught on camera stealing baby formula

Posted at 5:32 PM, Aug 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-10 18:39:36-04

FROSTPROOF, Fla. — Polk County deputies are searching for two women caught stuffing baby formula up their shirts.

The two were caught on camera at a Frostproof Save-a-Lot taking 11 cans of Enfamil.

Each of the canisters can cost upwards of $35.

ABC Action News spoke with shoppers who said they’re either desperate for their families or stealing for a profit.

“That’s ridiculous,” Nancy Pacheco, a shopper said.

Investigators say the incident happened on July 27th and the women can be seen leaving the store and getting into a vehicle that looks like a Nissan.

Detectives say judging by the number of canisters taken, the women may be part of a bigger scheme.

“It got really big a few years ago, it died down and now it seems as if it’s occurring again,” Brian Bruchey said, talking about black market baby formula.

And if you searching online you can see that the formula is a hot ticket item.

Canisters can be seen being sold on Facebook Marketplace for about half the original price.

“It’s sold at garage sales, on Facebook, Craigslist, whatever the case may be,” Bruchey said.

While it’s not clear what the women on camera have done or are doing with the formula, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says re-selling the product turns a petty crime into organized theft.

If you have any idea who the women are in the video, call CrimeStoppers.