Not everything is coming up roses in Highland Township, after a thief steals flowers several times before getting caught on surveillance video.
"I don't know who is going to come up and steal and think they are not going to get caught when there are cameras everywhere," said Angela Santana. She is the manager of the floral section for Save-A-Lot on Highland Road.
She noticed her flowers started to disappear, so she started to look through hours of surveillance footage. When she turned on the screen, she saw the thief in real-time.
"I couldn't believe when I hit the live (button)," she explained. "I just saw someone's head and a flashlight walking around."
The woman was taking flowers and putting them in a nearby cart Sunday around 11:00 pm.
"Geraniums, petunias, we have hanging baskets," Santana said. "My first instinct was to grab my keys and come out here and yell at her."
Santana called 911 and when officers arrived, the woman planted herself right under a flower table.
"She was standing next to the shopping cart and she had dove underneath the table."
Officers took her into custody. On the video you can see her sitting with her hands up and then falling back.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office says the woman was drunk and had drugs on her. She's been charged with larceny, drunk and disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.
Authorities say the woman told them she's sorry and this all stems from depression.
"Flowers make people happy, so I assume she felt the need for some color."
The woman was caught stealing on surveillance video at least three times before getting caught! In the video, she is seen carrying so many flowers she dropped some walking off.
In total, about $1,000 worth of flowers were taken.
"How can you not see the camera right there? I have no idea."
The woman will be in court June 14th.
