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'It felt like a gut punch': Orange Park business owner hit by shoplifters

She estimated they absconded with hundreds of dollars of merchandise. On Thursday, Watson filed a complaint with Jacksonville's Sheriff's Office.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — A year ago Sabrina Watson purchased a children's clothing store in Orange Park, then the coronavirus happened. 

The store, Once Upon A Time, was forced to close for six weeks and its 15 workers were laid off. Now, the store is reopened, with certain restrictions on capacity and social distancing guidelines.

On Tuesday, a couple came into the store and walked around loading up their shopping cart.

"It was full to the top," Watson said.

She knows because it was captured on the store's security cameras. After being closed for more than a month Watson is glad to have customers in the store.

"It is a little slower than normal which is what we anticipated," she said.

Slower but they were prepared, the business was flowing and the staff was back to work.

"They knew the staff was occupied," Watson said.

The couple in the video appeared to be regular shoppers until they got to the front door.

In the security video, you see the couple stop at the front door to examine a baby swing. First the man, then the woman. 

After a few minutes, the duo walked out of the store with the swing and shopping cart full of merchandise.

"This was really disappointing," Watson said."For this to happen it felt like a gut punch."

She estimated they absconded with hundreds of dollars of merchandise. On Thursday, she filed a complaint with Jacksonville's Sheriff's Office but she is not too optimistic.

Watson is not sure of the couple's identity and she didn't get their vehicles tag number all she knows is that they drove off in a white SUV.

"They may have had a need [but] I wished they had asked rather than steal what is not theirs," she said. 

On the store's Facebook page customers expressed their outrage. 

Watson released images from the incident and is now asking the community for its help identifying the couple. At the minimum, Watson would like the shoplifters to return the stolen items.

Anyone with information is asked to call the store or the sheriff's office at 904-630-0500

We were so excited to open back up and then this happened. We were closed for 5 weeks with NO revenue but bills kept coming just like all of you have experienced. We did everything we could to be able to stay in business so that we can be here for the community and customers that we love to serve. We have fought to be here for our own livelihoods and that of our staff. We understand times are tough for many people but most will receive help if they just ask. Unfortunately, these two don’t look desperate to me. They look like they are taking advantage of current circumstances. They loaded a buggy with baby clothes and walked right out of the door with the clothes and a swing without paying. We can not tolerate these kinds of actions and hope you can help. If you can identify these two please call the store with any leads. They left in a white SUV. 904-573-0760.

Posted by Once Upon A Child Orange Park/Jacksonville, FL on Tuesday, May 12, 2020

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