A man caught shoplifting booze from a New Jersey liquor store went to neighboring store just hours later to swipe mouthwash, according to New Jersey State Police.
State Police posted to Facebook that they had charged Kevin Heater of Branchville, New Jersey with shoplifting twice last Tuesday.
“There’s an old adage that we’ve all heard, in fact, our parents told it to us, we tell it to our children, and our children will tell it to their children: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again,’” wrote state police on Facebook. “This is sage advice to follow in most instances, but not in this one.”
An employee of George’s Wine and Spirits on Main Street in the North Jersey borough contacted troopers around 12:30 p.m. on April 19 after he confronted Heater in the parking lot and took back a bottle that Heater had hidden under his sweatshirt, said police.
Troopers arrested Heater without incident, charged the 29-year-old with shoplifting and public intoxication then released him.
Then around 5:20 p.m. that same day, troopers responded to the Family Drug Shop pharmacy – just a few doors down from the liquor store – for the report that a man stole several bottles of mouthwash, said police.
Investigators zeroed in on Heater who was charged with shoplifting and disorderly conduct before being released again.
“So, the moral of this story is if at first you don’t succeed while committing a crime, quit while you’re ahead,” wrote police.
No word yet on when Heater is due back in court.
