Pennsylvania Police Search for Alleged Wedding Gift Thief
Police believe a man stole at least $6,000 worth of gifts from two weddings.
July 11, 2013— -- Police have released a photo of a man they suspect has stolen thousands of dollars worth of gifts from weddings in Pennsylvania.
The suspect has allegedly stolen at least $6,000 worth of cash, gift cards and checks from two weddings, one on June 29, and another on July 7, according to ABC station WPVI in Philadelphia.
"It's really upsetting," Stacey Havlik, 32, of Ardmore, Pa., told ABC News. Havlik was a bride who had at least $3,000 worth of gifts stolen from her June 29 wedding.
"It really put a damper on our wedding. We missed a really fun time that we could have been enjoying," she said.
The suspect is a male with a chin strap and tattoos on his arm and neck, according to surveillance footage the Lower Gwynedd Police Department released to ABC station WPVI in Philadelphia on July 10.
The video was taken at the William Penn Inn in Gwynedd, the location of the July 7 alleged theft, WPVI reports.
"We had a bird cage on a table where guests could put their gifts," Havlik said. "At the end of our wedding my mom realized the bird cage was missing. Nobody saw it so we called the police."
The theft was not captured on surveillance video but guests told Havlik they had seen a man with a chin strap, beard and tattoos.
"I got a call from the police on July 10 saying that they believed there was a connection between the two thefts," Havlik said.
"Police showed my wedding guests and I the surveillance footage of this man and my guests immediately recognized him as the same guy," Havlik said.
The Lower Gwynedd Police Department did not return repeated calls for comment.
Havlik is still working with her insurance company to assess the value of her stolen gifts.
"It's really embarrassing to have to ask guests what they gave you. I'm not comfortable asking them to send the gifts again," Havlik said.
WPVI reported that police were also investigating a third theft they believe might also be linked to the two others.