Facebook used to nab Oogie Games thief

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The power of social media has helped police identify a thief caught on camera in the Town of Tonawanda.

Tips started pouring in after Oogie Games posted surveillance photos from a robbery Monday afternoon to Facebook. And by late Tuesday morning, Town of Tonawanda Police told News 4 they had arrested and charged 31-year-old Gerald Griffin of Buffalo.

The manager says a man came to the counter wanting to buy a used PlayStation 3. An employee got the gaming system from the back of the store and brought it to the register. The Manager says the man then started asking about games, and once the employee’s back was turned, the man bolted with the gaming system.

The employee tried chasing after the suspect, but it was too late. Fortunately for the store, they have numerous surveillance cameras set up around the store.

Thousands saw the pictures posted on Oogie Games’ Facebook wall and a store manager says they got multiple leads. In just over 12 hours, police had Gerald Griffin in custody.

Griffin was issued an appearance ticket and will return to court at a later date.