What a sole-less crime.
Three brazen thieves stole over 100 right-footed shoes during a booze-fueled robbery as the demoralized owner considered permanently closing his shop over the devastating blow to his business.
The owner of Sole Bros in Downtown Cincinnati, Hunter Emigh, shared on Facebook last week that he began receiving notifications from his security system at around 2 a.m. on Oct. 8 and saw three suspects inside his store pillaging his products.
The thieves made off with “over 100 right shoes taken, several full pairs, tons of clothing pieces, as well as other items and personal belongings,” Emigh wrote, along with security footage of the criminal act.
Security video from outside the store shows one of the thieves — wearing a red sweatsuit and gym bag — taking a swig from what appears to be a liquor bottle before breaking into the store, which held its grand opening in March.
That same thief was later seen calmly walking around the business showroom carrying multiple shoes in his arms.
Another of the shoe raiders, seen in a black sweatshirt and face mask, was caught on camera limping into the business, and the third, a woman, stood outside of the business, appearing to be standing guard.
Pictures from the aftermath show empty boxes of shoes scattered throughout the store floor, a raided storage closet, ransacked shelves, and discarded single shoes within the mix.
Emigh told WCPO that he missed the thieves by “about 17 to 19 minutes.”
He then realized the trio made off with “almost every other shoe to a lot of the pairs that were on the wall.”
“At that point, you know, it really was just like a demoralizing thing,” Emigh told the outlet.
He estimated the stolen products and damage to his store would cost him roughly $45,000.
The Cincinnati Police Department posted a clip of the burglary on X and said they are investigating.
The hit to his business took such a toll on the owner that he considered closing the store for good.
“Man, some days, it’s hard. I will say that,” Emigh shared. “After this happened, I told my employees straight up, ‘I’m (going to) just close.’ Literally, I was done with it.”
Emigh explained that his business had already been dealt with some hard times before last week’s robbery.
About 18 months ago, a car drove into the front of his older store, causing enough damage that he needed to find a new location within the city.
“This business and entrepreneurship has been a true test of everything for me,” he told WCPO.
However, Emigh revealed in his social media post that because of the “love and support” he has received from the community, his store will remain open and “try and offer the best services we can to the city.”
“I know someone’s boy has a limp now after jumping out the window. I know someone knows the drunk dude who took over 100 right shoes. I know someone knows the lady who knows she shouldn’t have been there,” he asked the public in his post.
“I’m still upset, but I don’t want to carry more hate in my heart,” he said.
