COLUMBUS – Police are looking for an East Side man who is accused of stealing more than $2,500 in teeth whitening kits, and so far, has made a clean getaway.
Officials say Sean Patrick Burk, dubbed the “Dental Hygiene Hoodlum,” is accused of taking only Crest-brand teeth whitening strips from stores in Polaris, Grove City, Easton and the OSU campus area over the past two months.
It’s unusual to see so many thefts of the same brand of product, says Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer, Jr.
“Serial thieves generally target certain items but it is unusual for us to see such brand loyalty where an offender only steals large quantities of a single product, over and over again,” he said.
Pfeiffer’s office says Burk, 46, stole over $1,000 worth of the teeth whitening strips from one store in the Polaris area.
“Mr. Burk has stolen so many teeth whitening strips, he may be literally on his way to having a million-dollar smile. However, we believe it’s more likely he’s not using the white strips personally, but selling them on the black market to feed a drug habit,” First Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Hedrick said.
Burk, whose last known address was on Bryden Road, has allegedly struck five times in less than two months:
Feb. 3 – Burk stole seven boxes of Crest White Strips valued at $419.93 from a Polaris area store and reportedly fled with an accomplice in a beige-colored sedan.
Feb. 4 – Burk returned to the same store the following day and stole 14 more boxes worth a total value of $609.86.
Feb. 9 – Burk stole an unspecified amount of white strips valued at $519.88 from a Grove City retailer.
Feb. 24 – Burk stole 10 boxes worth $459.40 from an Easton area retailer.
March 23 – Burk stole a “bag full” of white strips valued at $486.80 from an OSU area pharmacy.
Besides theft, Hedrick says Burk’s past criminal record includes charges of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and felony deception to obtain dangerous drugs.