In JACKSONVILLE, Fla., the owner of a local comic store is calling on the community for help after two individuals reportedly made off with merchandise valued over $1,500 during a Sunday afternoon heist.

Ben Kingsbury, who runs Gotham City Limit, recounted that the theft occurred around 1:15 p.m., coinciding with his attendance at the Jaguars game. An employee reached out to alert him about unusual behavior spotted in the store.

“Our business was deliberately targeted by these individuals. They were poised to strike, merely waiting for the opportune moment,” Kingsbury explained.

Having operated Gotham City Limit in Jacksonville for eight years, Kingsbury shared that store surveillance footage reveals a coordinated effort between the two men inside the shop.

“They pulled in at about 1:15 in the afternoon, sat in the car for about 10 minutes, both of them in the same car. Two men, the guy in the gray shirt and the guy in the yellow shirt. The guy in the yellow shirt came in instantaneously at about 1:26, walks in the back. We watched them steal some cards, put them in his pocket,” Kingsbury said.

Surveillance video obtained by First Coast News shows one of the men inside the shop. Kingsbury said he appeared to scope out the store while the other acted as a lookout.

“So his friend came in, stood in the back, ran lookout, gave him the OK. He went in the back, stuffed the things in his pants,” Kingsbury said. “His friend walked out the front, distracted my employee, and then the other guy walked out the front,” said Kingsbury.

In total, Kingsbury said more than $1,500 worth of comics and trading cards were stolen.

“Having to go through that video and find out what actually happened kind of breaks your heart a little bit,” said Kingsbury.

The shop is asking for the community’s help in identifying the men. Kingsbury said he hopes finding them prevents this kind of theft from happening at another local business.

“You know, whether it’s a smoke shop or a comic shop, we’re the lifeblood of keeping local community shops alive and one small incident will never stop us from continuing to do what we do,” said Kingsbury. “That’s what we do. We take it to the limit every single day.”

First Coast News is waiting to receive the incident report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Jacksonville police or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.