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Authorities: Burglar tracked by pickax bar code

The thief left behind a pickax he used to break in — and forgot to remove the price tag; the store had video of the purchase

Associated Press

METAIRIE, La. — Authorities in Louisiana say they tracked a man accused of stealing drugs from a pharmacy because he left behind a pickax he used to break in — and forgot to remove the price tag.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Col. John Fortunato says the sticker included a bar code indicating when and where the pickax was bought. The store had video of the purchase.

Fortunato tells The Times-Picayune that a store near the pharmacy had surveillance video from the night of the burglary, showing the same man and a vehicle license plate.

Fortunato says drugs from the pharmacy were found during a search of 43-year-old Scott Rodrigue’s home.

Rodrigue was booked with pharmacy burglary and drug possession and freed on $70,000 bond. He does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press