CAMDEN, SC — A pair of suspected shoplifters thought stowing meat and fish in a wheelchair would be a foolproof way to steal from a grocery store, but they did not count on cameras catching them in the act of hiding their goods.

Story continues after video

A pair of Columbia men are accused of shoplifting meat and fish using a wheelchair, based on this East Camden IGA surveillance video showing the apparent crime as it took place. Provided by the Kershaw County Sheriff's Dept. Video from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Dept.

Kershaw County Sheriff’s officers arrested Cory Prophet, 32, and Bobby Boykin, 64, both of Columbia, on Friday after receiving a complaint from an IGA store manager.

Store employees showed investigators video Nov. 6 of two men shopping at the store. The video shows one man, identified by investigators as Boykin, in a wheelchair and another, identified as Prophet, pushing a grocery cart. The men entered a secluded area of the store and video shows Boykin getting off the wheelchair and the men placing groceries under the chair’s seat.

The men then discard the cart and exit the store, Boykin in the chair.

The men returned to the store Friday but left when a manager observed them. A responding investigator stopped their car, which contained meat and fish the pair are suspected of stealing from another store.

Both men were charged with shoplifting and booked at the Kershaw County Detention Center. Prophet has previous convictions for shoplifting.

Kelly Davis