Chew on This: Connecticut Police Say Gum Thefts Increase

Police in several Connecticut towns say they’re dealing with a sticky situation — chewing gum thefts.

Authorities say there has been a noticeable increase recently in the number of people caught stealing chewing gum.

In one case, a Stratford man was charged with lifting more than $800 worth of gum from stores throughout the region. In West Hartford, four gum theft complaints have been investigated in the past few months, including one in which an Enfield man is charged with stealing $175 worth of gum from a local supermarket.

Police say they think the chewy contraband is ending up on the black market, where it’s harder to trace than other stolen goods.