Consignment Store Shuts Down Before Paying Customers

Nobody likes to be shorted when it comes to their money. So, when a Shreveport consignment shop closed its doors without paying customers for the items that were sold, clients like Terryl Miller became angry. "In my eyes, this was just plain robbery," Miller said. Miller brought more than $600 worth of furtniture to the Decor Store on Line Avenue. She says the owner, Tom Frank, agreed to sell it and give her half. Two weeks later, the Decor Store was empty. "I knew something was wrong and I pretty much figured he had up and gone," Miller said. She wasn`t the only victim. Valery Burkes says Frank agreed to sell her elderly mother`s antique furniture. But, Valery says the Decor Store still owes her hundreds of dollars for furniture she believes was sold. "I am so angry at what he did to my mom," Burkes said. Burkes and Miller say they both tried to contact Frank repeatedly for months but never recieved a response. Now, they`ve brought their complaints to the Shreveport Police. Police say this is not the first time Frank has been in hot water. In 2004, a similar complaint was filed against him. Yet, in that case, he eventually paid the client back. Miller just wonders whether she and other victims will be as lucky. "For people to be able to get away with such things," Miller said, " I just don`t think it`s right." The KTAL Troubleshooters attempted to contact Frank but were unable to reach him. As of now, Shreveport white collar crimes detectives are investigating the complaints.