In a bizarre incident in Queensland, a man reportedly stole 53 right shoes from a shopping centre, leaving detectives scratching their heads as they attempt to identify him. The theft occurred on July 7 at approximately 7.35 pm in Kenmore, Brisbane, where the man was captured on CCTV entering the centre.
The footage shows him approaching bags filled with shoes displayed on tables in a communal area. After opening one of the bags, he is alleged to have taken only the right-footed shoes—53 of them, to be precise—before placing them into a suitcase and casually wheeling it out of the centre.
The store, Shoe Fashion, took to Instagram to address the unusual theft the following day. They humorously remarked on the situation, noting that the thief appeared to have enjoyed a shopping spree at their sale table. “At some point last night, someone treated themselves to a little ‘shopping spree’ and took off with 53 right-foot boots,” the post read. They further clarified that they typically display only the right shoes to prevent items from going missing and to simplify transactions. The post concluded with a whimsical question about the fate of the mismatched haul, “Where are the 53 right-foot boots off to, we may never know.”
Shoe Fashion’s post also inquired rhetorically if the thief was aware that they were only taking single shoes from the display. The entire episode was recorded on CCTV, and Queensland Police have since released the footage in an effort to locate the man. However, authorities have yet to disclose any insights regarding the motive behind this peculiar act.
This strange theft has not only puzzled law enforcement but also sparked intrigue and amusement on social media, as people speculate about the thief’s next move and the purpose of his singular acquisition.