Thieves hit store for thousands in cognac, cash and cigarettes

DETROIT - Cognac, cash and cigarettes - thieves with big party plans trash a liquor store leaving a lot of empty space on the shelves.

Employees at Detroit's Big Daddy liquor store on Oakland Street say they are fed up with thieves. While installing a new alarm system, they were left  looking up at empty shelves Wednesday.

"They're losers, a bunch of losers," said Bashar Habbo. "That's all."

The so-called losers, with liquid courage apparently planning a very festive New Year's party. They stole thousands of dollars’ worth of top-shelf liquor and champagne Monday morning.

"Cognac,  a lot of Remy Martin, the expensive stuff," Habbo said.

On top of that, manager Bashar Habbo says the booze-loving burglars also stole thousands in cigarettes and at least $15,000 in cash from the register and safe.

"They took everything," he said.

Habbo says this isn't the first time the store has been targeted. He says back in July several thieves hit the store literally, by driving into a wall. But they didn't get a chance to take off with anything...

"They had a stolen van and they went through the wall from the back," he said.

Habbo says this time the thieves cut through the metal, breaking the glass on this door then cut through more metal.

"They only came for the expensive liquor and they took it," Habbo said.

Reviewing surveillance video and handing it over to police, Habbo said the three men were wearing masks and carrying garbage cans filling them up one by one.

"They did it one time, left, and after 10-15 minutes, came back again," Habbo said.

Returning a third and final time  Habbo says Detroit police on patrol noticed the doors were broken. All that was left, a $5 bill. The masked men  must have dropped it as they took off with their bottles of booze.

"It's a shame," Habbo said. "But we're going to get them."