Caught On Camera: The Monroe County Reporter Prints Paper Thief’s Picture on Front Page

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)– The Monroe County Reporter caught people on camera taking extra papers, and printed a picture of one thief on the front page.

“As we say it’s so good some can’t take just one,” said publisher Will Davis.

That headline is making headlines all over the county. Since the pictures went to press, Davis says they’ve been the talk of the town.

“The cashier stopped me and said you’ve got this town terrified. I said what do you mean? She said a lady said she accidentally took two papers out of the coin rack at Ingles. She felt really bad about it, and gave the clerk a dollar and said please go put this is the newspaper box. I don’t want to be on the front page of the newspaper,” said Davis.

So why did Davis install security cameras near some of the boxes? Every dollar adds up, and on average Davis says people steal 50 to 100 papers a week.

“Even on the low end that’s about $2,500 a year. That’s a raise for an employee. That’s money we could put to good use. It’s theft,” said Davis.

Davis said he tried several ways to catch the thieves like putting stickers on all the boxes that said “those caught stealing the paper will be prosecuted.” When that didn’t work, it was time to get creative.

“I borrowed a friend’s hunting camera and we set in some different places around town and we were able to catch some people stealing,” said Davis.

He caught this woman two weeks in a row taking an extra edition.

Resident Jacque Banks doesn’t understand why people need more than one copy.

“It’s just assanine, I couldn’t believe it, and the pictures in the paper, that was unreal,” said said Banks.

Davis said the real message is to remind the paper thieves that behind every edition is a team of six who works hard to produce a strong product.

“We think it’s valuable, we think it’s worth a lot, at least a dollar,” said Davis.

Davis says he doesn’t plan on pressing charges yet, but if the stealing continues, he’ll be forced to take legal action.