Hunter
10/12/21
A Cedar Rapids man was arrested early Tuesday on a warrant stemming from a springtime theft of an electric bicycle.
According to police, 43-year-old Benjamin Chaplin of 11th Street Southwest was allegedly seen on video April 9th at around 11am in front of the University of Iowa Pharmacy building, taking an electric bike valued at over $1850. He then reportedly rode the bike to a purple SUV where another person helped him load it and a second bike into the vehicle. The two then left the scene.
The second person was identified by Iowa City Police, and he gave them Chaplin’s name. Chaplin was interviewed later and he admitted that he knew the second person involved in the alleged theft.
A warrant was issued for Chaplin’s arrest on May 6th; he was booked at the Johnson County Jail just before 2am Tuesday. He’s charged with 2nd degree Theft, a Class D Felony punishable by a prison term of up to five years if convicted.