Thief Steals from Liquor Store as Employee Collapses

A thief posing as a good Samaritan reportedly stole almost a thousand dollars from a liquor store in Portland while an employee suffered a fatal heart attack.

Jason Hay, aged 53, passed away on October 25, just a week after succumbing to cardiac arrest while working at Bins & Barrels in southeast downtown Portland.

During the emergency, as employees and customers rushed to assist Hay, a man seized the opportunity to pilfer from the store, according to reports.

Footage from the store captured the unidentified man, dressed in a black jacket and red hoodie, feigning concern for Hay by checking his pulse and searching for his wallet.

Other staff called for patrons to grab Hay’s belongings as he was being loaded into an ambulance. Meanwhile, the suspect made his way to a back room, starting the robbery.

Surveillance video shows him stuffing a bag of cash from the store’s open safe into his pants.

Michelle Maurer, the store manager, noted, “He ran into the back office looking for something valuable and ended up with my laptop bag.” He also discovered an open safe containing change.

The thief made off with around $800 before anyone noticed.

It wasn’t until the following day that employees became aware of the theft. “I realized my bank bag was missing when I went to get my change and checked the camera footage,” Maurer shared.

Hay’s sister, Jessica Jones, expressed her heartbreak at seeing the video, overwhelmed by the thought that someone would exploit the situation while her brother fought for his life.

He tragically passed away in the ICU a week after the incident.

His family announced, “With heavy hearts, we share that Jason passed away quietly this morning at 7 am.”

Having been a familiar face in the community, Hay had only been employed at the store for about a year.

His family described him as “a truly unique light,” someone who touched many lives with his kindness and spirit.

Tragically, doctors had to amputate Hay’s right leg due to complications from a blood clot before his death.

A memorial for Hay has since been set up at the store. He was the primary breadwinner for his family, leaving behind a wife and a 15-year-old son.

One clerk shared a poignant memory: “He remembered the names of everyone who walked through that door.”

Jones noted the sadness of the situation, stating, “That was someone he knew. That was someone he trusted.” She suspects her brother might have recognized the thief.

Currently, police have not identified the suspect and no charges have been laid yet, as the investigation continues.