Footballer Arik Gilbert breaks into liquor store and steals vapes worth $1,600 in viral video

Bright and early on Tuesday, August 29, Arik Gilbert, the Nebraska football sensation, decided to switch up his game plan – from touchdowns to "take downs".

This time, he was not dodging defenders, but surveillance cameras. The man found himself in the spotlight, not for his athletic prowess, but for a quirky career change: a little burglary escapade.

Arik Gilbert, a once highly-touted five-star recruit who moved from Georgia to Nebraska, was expected to be a major player for the Cornhuskers in 2023.

What

• Gilbert pulled off a sneak operation, breaking into a liquor store in SJ's Liquor & Vape in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.
• He snagged stuff worth $1,600 (Rs 1 lakh 32 thousand) from the store. 
• However, his escapade was short-lived as his crazy stunt was recorded on camera. 
• He was arrested by the police at around 2 am outside the store.
• Gilbert was tagged with a burglary charge and a ticket to a not-so-pleasant stay at the county jail.

Desperate act

• Caught on camera, the action-packed to-and-fro began with the footballer tossing a chunk of cement through a door.
• Meanwhile, the police hotline buzzed, and they raced to the scene.
• A crew of eight officers turned the scene into a cinematic moment as Gilbert dropped his "shopping bags" and threw his hands up.
• Gilbert was caught red-handed carrying an intriguing medley of vape treats and lighters all adding up to $1,672 (Rs 1 lakh 38 thousand).
• According to the police report, Gilbert caused roughly $650 (Rs 53 thousand) in damages to the store. 

The  viral video has got all the suspense of a Hollywood heist. 

Nebraska's head coach, Matt Rhule, openly expressed his feelings, mentioning that he was "obviously really disappointed, really sad" by Gilbert's actions. 

He was taken into custody on a burglary charge - a serious offence in Nebraska - and ended up in the Lancaster County jail. 

This arrest now threatens his upcoming season. Despite entering college with high hopes after being a top-ranked tight-end prospect in high school, Gilbert's journey has been rocky, from committing to LSU in 2020 to his switch to Georgia and now Nebraska.