• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Supermarket employee fired after filming viral video of 3 men stealing laundry detergent

Home> News

Updated 16:51 6 Jul 2023 GMT+1Published 16:15 6 Jul 2023 GMT+1

Supermarket employee fired after filming viral video of 3 men stealing laundry detergent

Their haul totalled around $500

Amelia Jones

Amelia Jones

A supermarket employee has been fired after he filmed three men stealing approximately $500 worth of laundry detergent from the store and uploaded it to TikTok last month.

Santino Burrola, a former military police officer and employee of King Soopers grocery store in Colorado, immediately pulled out his phone after being alerted to a theft.

He told CBS Colorado: "When I looked there was already a guy halfway headed out with a food cart full of laundry detergents and scent boosters and what have you.

Advert

"My first instinct, record."

He caught up to the three thieves who had hurried to load up a black Chevy Trax.

In the video, which has since been shared by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Burrola can be heard asking the trio: “Really, bro, you got to resort to this? The economy isn’t that bad. Better gettin’ while the gettin’s good."

To which one of the men replies: "Sorry man, nothing personal."

Advert

As the three attempt to flee the parking lot, the getaway driver was a little too quick off the mark with one of the men struggling to get inside the car before it pulled away.

The delay allowed Burrola to yank off a sheet of foil covering the license plate. He later called the police.

The three men were filmed loading their car with the stolen laundry detergent.
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

“I posted it on TikTok, hoping that somebody would recognize them,” Burrola said about the video, which has been viewed 1.5 million times since being uploaded on 16 June.

Advert

But instead of a heroes welcome, when he returned for his next shift, Burrola found out he'd been suspended and was fired a week later.

However, he said he didn’t break rules and was merely trying to help.

“I would never let any criminal conduct slide, especially when it’s happening right in front of me," Burrola told 9News.

“Did I feel that I overstepped boundaries? Not really because I didn’t physically touch them or alter their shoplifting in any way, I just revealed the license plate to help the community to be aware, the police be aware and to help better catch them.”

Advert

The Arapahoe Sherriff’s Office said in a statement: “Investigators have already identified and arrested the driver, Jorge Pantoja, 32, the man in the green shirt.

“Pantoja is currently in custody at the Adams County Detention Facility on unrelated felony charges. He has also been charged with Theft/Shoplifting, a Class 2 Misdemeanor.”

Police are still searching for the other two thieves and have appealed to the public for help in identifying them.

The supermarket employee was fired after filming the video.
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

Advert

In a statement to CBS Colorado, King Soopers said: “We are disappointed by the increased level of crime across retail establishments and the impact these incidents have on our associates and customers. We remain committed to working in partnership with local law enforcement to address this issue, as safety remains a top priority.

"We have security measures in place to help prevent crime and de-escalate such confrontations to minimize the risk to our associates. While we are unable to comment on personnel matters, we value our hardworking associates and their safe return home.”

Burrola’s family have since created a GoFundMe to recover his lost wages after he received no severance pay and 'fell behind' on bills, which has exceeded its $10,000 target.

UNILAD has contacted King Soopers for comment.

If you think you can identify the other two men in the video, contact the Investigations Tipline at 720-874-8477 or email [email protected].

Featured Image Credit: CBS / Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office

Topics: News, US News, Crime

Amelia Jones
Amelia Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Every disturbing claim revealed at opening trial day of Diddy's sex-trafficking case
  • Cop arrested and fired for appearing in an OnlyFans video while on duty
  • Hockey fan who flashed boobs at game lands deal with Playboy after video went viral
  • Heartbreaking reason mother is pleading with judge to declare 3 sons dead 15 years after their disappearance

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Severe weather leaves at least 14 dead as authorities issue heartbreaking update

    Governor Andy Beshear said the number 'is expected to grow'

    News
  • an hour ago

    Supreme Court blocks Trump bringing back unknown 18th-century wartime law to begin mass deportations

    President Donald Trump will not be able to mass deport alleged criminals to El Salvador's toughest prison

    News
  • an hour ago

    Chrissy Teigen says she 'let f**king beast alcohol back into her life' after two years sober in extremely honest post

    Teigen said: "To let a lot of you down, oh I feel it deeply."

    Celebrity
  • 2 hours ago

    Human remains discovered near Taylor Swift's home spark more serial killer fears after 12 people found dead in area

    Fears are rising over a suspected killer on the loose - but police across New England say there's nothing to worry about

    News