Four College Athletes Caught on Surveillance Cameras Entering Closed Store – What They Did Next Stunned the Manager

Four football players from William Paterson University entered a local general store in Wayne, N.J., on Sunday afternoon in search of sunglasses and batteries. The door was open, so they let themselves in and got the items they needed, but there were no store employees to be found.

The four men were then captured on surveillance video…leaving money at the register and waving to the cameras. One of the players even dug through his pockets for change to make sure he paid the right amount in tax.

Marci Lederman, Buddy's Small Lots store manager, said she was happy to see the football players pass on the opportunity to "ransack" or steal items from her store.

“They picked up a few items, and they left cash on the counter and waved to the cameras. Who does that?” Lederman told Yahoo! News.

Apparently, Thomas James, Kell’E Gallimore, Jelani Bruce and Anthony Biondi do "that."

William Paterson University head football coach Jerry Flora wasn't the least bit surprised by his players' honest act.

“That’s the kind of kids we try and recruit in here so we can obviously deal with a lot less headaches if you know what I mean," he said.

So how did the men end up in an empty, unattended store?

Lederman said the players unknowingly entered her business when it was closed due to a half-lit store and a malfunctioning front door lock. Police reportedly called her to inform her of a tripped alarm, but when she got to the store there was nothing missing.

However, there was cash left at the counter.

“They could have ransacked the store. They could have really done anything" but they "were perfect gentlemen. They were looking to see if anyone was here. They looked in the back to make sure no one was lying on the floor dead," Lederman added.

More from CBS New York:

The store manager was so thankful that she submitted the surveillance video to a local TV station, which ultimately helped her identify the honest athletes. She then provided each of the men a $50 credit to shop at Buddy's Small Lots.

It really does pay to be honest.

“They were just very thankful and grateful,” Lederman said.

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