Thieves target school uniform shops

Tax-free weekend in Oklahoma is in full swing and with Tulsa Public Schools switching to uniforms this year it may be busier than ever.

But the new uniform rules are also creating problems for some stores. That’s why cameras and security guards will be watching this weekend.

"In the last three to five years we've noticed an increase or trend of what I call blatant larceny,” says K Renee’s Uniform Closet owner, Karen Renee.

Just last week a man came in to her store looking very suspicious.

"He started taking things off of the hanger and laying them over the pile he had in his arms, and when he had a stack of things he just walked towards the counter as though he was ready to check out and looked our sales people in the eye and ran straight out the door,” says Renee.

Because of past and recent thefts, the store has hired security and added cameras to monitor the floor.

One of the ways that people are getting items out of the store are by using big purses to stuff items in.

“You pay attention to the purse when it comes in, and you pay attention to the purse when it gets to register,” says store security guard, Stephen Mantooth.

There are other ways thieves are getting the merchandise out of the store too.

"They use strollers. I've seen things put into strollers and they cover it up,” says Mantooth.

For store owner, Karen Renee – it’s a big hit on her pocketbook.

"I probably could have made a down payment on a very nice car, not that I do drive a very nice car, but I could have. And it could have been a month's salary for me or several of our part time employees,” she says.

Renee says she understands the pressure people can feel in a down economy, but there is another way to get the items you need.

"We hope people just take advantage of the discounts and not resort to that,” she says.

The store now has seven cameras and two security guards to help make sure it does not get hit by thieves again.