Thieves Steal Over $10,000 in Michigan Lottery Scratch-Off Tickets

A quick 20-second break-in left a St. Clair Shores convenience store with more than $10,000 in stolen scratch-off lottery tickets. However, the thieves may not be able to cash in on their haul if the tickets are flagged by lottery officials.

The theft happened early Tuesday morning at Buscemi's Party Shoppe near 13 Mile Road and Harper. Surveillance footage captured a dark-colored SUV pulling into the parking lot before a man wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants jumped out.

The suspect used a rock to smash through a glass door, rushed inside, and grabbed a large stack of scratch-off tickets from behind the counter. He left in a hurry, dropping several ticket packages along the way.

"20 seconds and he took everything and left," store manager Hazim Jarbo said.

Frank Dahma, who owns the neighboring Shores Barber Shop, discovered broken glass and several scratch-ticket boxes scattered outside Tuesday morning. He immediately contacted the store manager, who notified police.

Jarbo said the store originally had 64 boxes of tickets but was left with only around 20 after the robbery.

Stolen Tickets Could Be Worthless

There may be a major problem for the thieves: stolen lottery tickets can be flagged, making them difficult or impossible to redeem.

Michigan Lottery officials said their security team works with retailers to identify the serial numbers of stolen tickets. Those details are then shared with investigators to help track down the suspects.

Both St. Clair Shores police and the Michigan Lottery are investigating the incident. The store is also seeking guidance from lottery officials to determine the next steps.

The robbery has upset nearby business owners and customers, who say the store's employees are hardworking members of the community.

Anyone with information about the theft is encouraged to contact St. Clair Shores police.