Man Steals iPads As OKC Target Employee Texts Nearby

We've all been told how distracting texting and driving can be, but it turns out texting can also distract workers from spotting crooks in action.

Oklahoma City Police say on Monday night a thief managed to take four iPads right out of the Quail Springs Super Target, located at Memorial Rd. and Pennsylvania Ave. Fortunately surveillance cameras were rolling, because workers did not notice.

You can see the guy in a red hoodie somehow managed to pry open the locked case holding the iPads. He then took five of them out and walked away.

On the video you can see he then slips around the corner to another aisle, and begins placing them under his shirt to conceal them while just feet away there's a clerk. But he's so engrossed in texting on his phone, that he doesn't notice the crime happening two rows over, or even the display case that has been pried open.

In fact, it was actually an observant shopper who notices the display case has been tampered with and who alerts the clueless clerk to the problem, giving the suspect more than enough time to slip away. But thankfully surveillance cameras got a good shot of his face as he walked out the door.

"It is good video of him leaving the business," said Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

"We can get a look at his face, and we're confident that someone will recognize him and contact police. Obviously this is $2,000 – $3,000 worth of electronics. It's somebody we do want to get captured."

Police say the guy in the red hoodie was seen arriving and leaving in a two toned black and white pickup truck.