Business owners worry about recent cigarette thefts

BOCA RATON, Fl -- Police in Boca Raton are still looking for the people involved in 5 recent cigarette thefts.
The most recent robbery happened at a Publix, where 3 thieves made out with $8,000 worth of cigarettes.
Police say it may be a sign of the tough economic times.
"There is a black market for anything out there, what these criminals are doing is, they are probably selling the cigarettes out in the street or to smaller convenience stores,' said Mark Economou, with Boca Raton Police. 
Since the Federal Government's $1.00 tax hike, Police say cigarettes have become a lot more valuable to criminals.
Business owners like Muhammad Khan, who owns a small convenience store on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, say they are afraid they will be the next target. 
"We are afraid of loosing our money, and we are afraid of loosing our life," said Khan. 
Since May there have been 5 cases of cigarette thefts in Boca Raton, together, the loss totaled more than $10,000.
Police say they are targeting big stores like Publix and CVS, but smaller convenience store owners should also be careful. 
"Stores that sell cigarettes should take extra steps to keep them locked up and behind glass, because these people know what they are doing," said Economou.