EDWARDSVILLE -- Police in part of Luzerne County are still searching for the person who stole $400 worth of baby formula from a grocery store over the weekend.
This is the fifth time baby formula has been stolen from the Price Chopper at the West Side Mall and they are just one of several businesses dealing with this growing problem.
A can of formula can cost anywhere from around $15 to $30.
"There's no reason for anything like that. It's uncalled for," said Cindy Stofey of Plains Township.
Stofey has two children of her own and says when they were on formula, it was crucial that she be able to get it when she needs it.
"You got to feed your kids. If you have two kids and they're growing up, their feeding patterns when they're first born, they're feeding every two hours. It's a lot of formula you go through in a quick amount of time. You go to a store and they have none, you got an infant you have to take care of and that's your top priority," Stofey said.
"That's important that you're able to purchase it. You can't feed a baby just anything," said Celine McGlynn of Wilkes-Barre.
So what's the allure in stealing baby formula? According to Edwardsville police, because formula is more expensive, it can be easily sold and used for drug money or the formula can be a mixer for drugs such as cocaine or heroine.
At Schiel's Family Market in Wilkes-Barre, they ran into the same problem about eight months ago. That's why when you enter the baby food aisle, you won't find any powdered baby formula. You need to buy that up front.
"They would have to come right to the register, ask for it, an employee will grab it and take it to the register. They have to purchase it right then and there," said Angie Martin with Schiel's Family Market.
Martin says moving formula to the front has eliminated their theft problem.
We've reached out to Price Chopper to see if they plan to change the layout of their baby formula.
If you have any information about this theft, you're asked to call Edwardsville police.
