Crime & Safety
Police: 'I'm Only Stealing from Rich People' Man Declares, After Taking 12-Pack, Ham Steak from Hy-Vee
The man also allegedly challenged Hy-Vee staff stating "none of you are big enough to take me."
A local homeless man is accused of stealing items from Hy-Vee on First Avenue and challenging staff who tried to stop him.
According to an Iowa City Police complaint, on Aug. 18 at 3:00 p.m. police were called to the store at 812 S. 1st Avenue after Hy-Vee employees had witnessed Thomas Allen Johnston, 51, no address, allegedly stealing a 12-pack of beer.
The employees confronted Johnston he allegedly told them that "none of you are big enough to take me" and refused to come back into the store, according to the complaint.
Johnston later was interviewed by police and he admitted to taking the beer and a ham steak discovered in his back pack, saying that he "didn't care" and that he was "only stealing from rich people," according to the complaint.
Johnston has two prior theft convictions from earlier this year. Due to these prior theft convictions, he received a charge of third-degree theft, an aggravated misdemeanor, despite the fact that the items cost $11.71, which would usually qualify for a fifth-degree theft (shoplifting) charge.
He was booked into the Johnson County Jail where he was charged and released this morning.
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