Women shoplift hundreds in baby formula in purses, pants - WSMV Channel 4

It's a grocery store item so popular with crooks, police are calling it "liquid gold."

Surveillance video from the Madison Street Publix in Clarksville shows two women shoving hundreds of dollars worth of baby formula in their purses. One of the women even stuffs the formula in her pants before leaving.

Clarksville police are now on the lookout for Shanta Griffin and Vanessa Beaty. Both women have a history of theft charges.

Police said this is far from the first baby formula case they've seen.

"It seems to be escalating as the cost of these formulas go up," said Officer Jim Knoll of the Clarksville Police Department. "They're sometimes $25 to $35 a can for the formula. Of course, with the price increase, the value increases."

Police added it's not the locally owned stores being hit in baby formula theft cases. Instead, it's large chains. With more space, criminals feel more confident they can get away with their crime.

"From the investigations we've done, it's not to feed the family," Knoll said. "It's for resale. It's for distribution. It's to make money off of, and it's not to take care of the family."

If you have any information on Shanta Griffin or Vanessa Beaty, please contact Clarksville police.