A quick-thinking citizen and a Carrs employee were instrumental in identifying a shoplifting Anchorage man who was ultimately charged with Forgery I and Theft III on Sunday, APD reported on Tuesday.

Patrol officers responded to the Carrs on Gambell in reference to a shoplifter at 1:31 pm on Sunday. When they opened an investigation and interviewed the Carrs employee who saw the man, now identified as 52-year-old Julien E Grant, fill up a shopping cart with over $300 worth of merchandise and push the cart out of the store without paying.

The employee immediately called 911 and reported the crime as it was happening. While on the phone with police, the employee followed Grant out of the store and “told him to stop,” APD reported. Instead of stopping, Grant broke into a run with the shopping cart. As he ran, Grant’s wallet would fall out of his pocket. The employee picked it up.

Grant continued to make good his escape, but a citizen, seeing what was happening, snapped a picture of Grant running away with the store’s goods with her phone. Grant gave up on making off with the shopping cart and abandoned it and left the area. The witness “gathered up the stolen items and returned them to the store,” the report revealed.

APD reports that the employee opened Grant’s wallet and found his ID and a fake $100 bill. 

Police scoured the area after their arrival but found no sign of Grant.

Grant was found to have a federal warrant for absconding from probation. An additional federal warrant was issued for Forgery I and Theft III. 

Julian Grant is 6’02” tall, 270 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.  If you have information regarding Grant’s whereabouts, please call APD Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1).  To remain anonymous you may contact Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.

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