Petaluma thieves take chance, steal lottery tickets

The man asked for cigarettes and when the clerk turned to help him, the suspect grabbed two large racks of Scratcher tickets from the counter, police said.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Stolen lottery tickets from a Petaluma store were cashed for at least $500 in winnings, and Petaluma police are searching for the thieves.

Hundreds of tickets were taken late Friday night by a man, described as in his 30s with brown hair and Fu Manchu mustache, wearing a black sweatshirt with “Thrasher” in orange letters, blue jeans and black shoes, buying a pack of cigarettes at Discount Cigarettes on Old Redwood Highway, according to Petaluma police.

The suspect, caught on a surveillance video camera, asked for a pack of cigarettes but grabbed two large racks of California Lottery Scratcher tickets from the counter when the clerk turned to help him, police said. The man ran into an awaiting car. He and the driver last were seen heading north on Highway 101.

Police suspect the men went to various Santa Rosa stores and cashed in winning tickets, collecting about $500. The two men were in a newer model, four-door Honda Accord with dealer plates.

Anyone with information should contact Petaluma Police Officer Brendan Sawyer at 707-781-1248.

-Randi Rossmann

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