Can You Help Rayne Police Identify Suspect from Hardware Store?

Officials with Acadia Crime Stoppers are trying to help the Rayne Police Department identify a woman they say is a suspect in the theft of $2,000 worth of items from the Ace Hardware Store.

Based on surveillance video from the store, Rayne Police officers say they believe the woman in the picture above helped a male accomplice steal several rolls of Romex wire.

If you are wondering what Romex wire is, so was I. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Romex wire is the brand name for a type of electrical wire that has a covering. Depending on the gauge of the wiring, it is very costly. The Ace Hardware website shows prices anywhere from $33 dollars to $64 for fifty feet of wire. Rayne Police says the theft of the wire totaled $2,000, so that's a large amount of wire.

Law enforcement in Rayne says the woman's accomplice has already been arrested, but they are trying to identify this woman in connection to the Felony Theft case. The man arrested for allegedly stealing the wire is Michael Mercier, Jr. of Carencro.

Police described her as a black female who has dark hair and a medium build. She was seen in surveillance at the Ace Hardware Store at 1403 The Boulevard in Rayne. This incident says happened on Monday, February 7, 2022.

If you think you know this woman, you can do something about it by calling Acadia Parish Crime Stoppers at 337-789-TIPS (8477) and giving them information. It's anonymous. You can also use the P3 app from any mobile device. If your information leads to an arrest, you can get a cash reward of up to $1,000 from the program.