Scratch-off heist caught on video — now police want your help

In a case of high hopes and low odds, one Mississippi man is pressing his luck the wrong way. Just before sunrise on Memorial Day, a thief pulled off a quick grab at a West Point gas station, making off with a handful of scratch-offs and a getaway plan that may not hold up under police scrutiny.

Lottery ticket theft

Early in the morning on Monday, May 26, 2025, officers from the West Point Police Department were called to Murphy Oil, located on Highway 45 Alternate in West Point, regarding a theft.

Once at the scene, officers were able to obtain surveillance footage which showed the suspect reaching over the counter while the clerk was distracted. The suspect then took several Mississippi Lottery scratch-off tickets before leaving the store.

Police are on the lookout

After leaving the store, police said the suspect had reportedly left in a heavily damaged Chevy Malibu.

Police shared the surveillance footage of the suspect taking the lottery tickets in the hopes of the public helping to find this man. If you recognize the suspect or have any details regarding the case, you are urged to call the West Point Police Department at 662-494-1244.

New games and big jackpots

The suspect above was trying his luck at some Mississippi Lottery scratchers, but he did it before a new batch of tickets arrive at lottery retailers. Lottery officials recently announced that three new summer scratch-off games will be debuting on June 3.

Here's a closer look at the new games:

• $1 – Double Doubler: This $1 scratch-off game gives players the chance to win up to $5,000 by matching three like prize amounts. It also offers a Prize Level area, where players get a chance to double or even four times the prize amount.
• $5 – Gold Rush: This $5 scratch-off game gives players a chance to win up to $100,000. An axe symbol gives you an instant cash prize, or a stack of gold bars symbol gives you five times the prize winnings. Players can also reveal a money stack symbol in the Bonus spot for an instant win.
• $20 – $500,000 Extreme Cash: This $20 scratch-off game gives players the opportunity to win up to $500,000. Players can win instant cash prizes when revealing a money bag symbol. There are also ten-times and twenty-times prize multipliers, as well as a $500 burst for an instant win. The game also offers two bonus spots, which give players an extra shot to win instant cash prizes.

In addition to the new instant games coming to Mississippi, players can also join in the fun by playing the Mississippi Match 5 draw game. Tonight's jackpot has climbed all the way up to $800,000.

The largest Mississippi Match 5 jackpot ever hit was on February 7, 2023, for $905,168. That winning ticket was purchased at Sprint Mart #4136, located in West Point, so maybe there is some luck to be had in West Point after all?

Enjoy playing the Mississippi Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.