LUBBOCK, TX — The owner of several family-run liquor stores in Lubbock is fed up after experiencing a series of thefts at his establishments. Ravi Patel, owner of Ravi’s Liquor, worries about the rising theft and its impact on his store's livelihood. In a recent interview, he shared the frustrating series of incidents that have pushed him to take recent camera action and protect what he has built.
About a month ago, things started to go downhill when a woman walked into the Ravi's Liquor Store #4 at 12011 Indiana Ave. and tried to buy a bottle. When her payment didn’t go through, she left, and a man followed her in. Ravi's employee quickly alerted him as the man grabbed a bottle and headed for the door. But before the employee could do anything, the man bolted out with the bottle, leaving without paying.
"She walked outside and sent a gentleman in," he remembered. "He went straight to the back, grabbed a bottle, and walked out. When we tried to stop him, he just ran off."
The woman Ravi Patel told us about
In a more recent incident on Thursday, Oct. 3, the two individuals from the previous month returned to his south Indiana Ave. store. While they made no purchases and left shortly after entering, Patel's frustrations mounted when he realized who they were. They returned just hours later, despite his efforts to alert local authorities.
The man thief Ravi Patel described.
"We had to lock the doors and wait for the police to arrive," he explained. He noted that the woman was apprehended inside the store while the man fled to an apartment complex across the street.
“They see that we're nice and humble, and they think they can keep taking advantage of us," Patel said.
Ravi Patel, proprietor of Ravi's Liquor Stores in Lubbock
Patel said he has invested significantly in security in his stores, adding barred windows and more cameras, but is considering taking even more drastic measures.
"We don’t even keep cash in the register anymore," he said. "We only leave about $60 in ones and fives, but the thefts end up costing us so much more in damages and lost merchandise."
Ravi's Liquor Store #4, 12011 Indiana Ave, Lubbock
He also noted that one of his other store’s windows was recently broken into, leaving shattered glass at the front.
Patel is now taking matters into his own hands after he filmed the recent incident on a Facebook Live video, clearly showing the people trying to steal from him. "It's not just us," he said. "I feel like many businesses are not reporting these thefts because they think it’s a waste of time. But if we don’t speak out and take action, it’s just going to keep happening."
Taking to social media, Ravi also offered a reward for information about the suspects. "I’ve received tips from people who used to work for them," he said. "Community support is crucial. The more we share and expose these incidents, the more we can protect each other."
Patel, now reeling from the recent thefts, emphasized the need for businesses to be vigilant. When asked what other local businesses can do to prevent this from happening to them, he advised, "Keep an eye on your customers, make sure you have proper security systems, and don’t leave cash lying around. It’s about creating a safer environment for everyone."
Patel is hopeful that local business owners can unite to slow the rising tide of thefts affecting their community after his efforts to call out the people who steal from his store. "We’re all in this together," he said.
"If we don’t stand up, who will?"
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