Thieves Steal Truckload of Cigarettes in East Memphis Gas Station Heist

Surveillance footage captures two suspects assaulting a clerk and fleeing with a large container of stolen cigarettes.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:57am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled pack of cigarettes, the harsh flash lighting creating a stark, gritty aesthetic that conceptually represents the violent nature of the crime.Surveillance footage captures the violent theft of a large quantity of cigarettes from a Memphis gas station, exposing the risks faced by convenience store employees.Memphis Today

Police in Memphis, Tennessee are searching for two suspects who robbed a Kroger Fuel Center gas station on March 29, assaulting the clerk and stealing a large quantity of cigarettes. Surveillance video shows the two male suspects, one jumping over the counter and pushing the clerk away from the storage room, while the other stood watch as the first suspect grabbed the cigarettes and the pair fled the scene in a black pickup truck.

Why it matters

Cigarette theft is a common target for organized retail crime rings, as stolen cigarettes can be easily resold on the black market for significant profits. This incident highlights the risks faced by gas station and convenience store employees, who are often the victims of violent crimes during these types of robberies.

The details

According to the police report, the robbery occurred just before 8 a.m. on March 29 at the Kroger Fuel Center located at 761 Truse Parkway off Poplar Avenue in East Memphis. Surveillance footage shows the two male suspects entering the store, with one jumping over the counter and forcefully pushing the clerk away from the storage room door while the other stood watch. The first suspect then grabbed a large container full of cigarettes from the storage room before the pair fled the scene in a black pickup truck.

  • The robbery occurred just before 8 a.m. on March 29, 2026.

The players

Kroger Fuel Center

A gas station and convenience store located in East Memphis, Tennessee that was the target of the cigarette theft.

Memphis Police Department

The law enforcement agency investigating the robbery and searching for the two suspects.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing problem of organized retail crime targeting gas stations and convenience stores, where thieves can easily resell stolen goods like cigarettes on the black market. Convenience store owners and employees must remain vigilant to protect themselves from such violent robberies.