Transient charged in IC appliance store burglary case

Lang
2/11/23

A transient faces charges that he burglarized an Iowa City appliance store last summer.

59-year-old Scott Ayers has been in the Johnson County Jail since November on unrelated charges. Iowa City Police say Ayers and another suspect entered the property of Slager Appliance on Highway 1 West just before 2:30am on August 27th by climbing over or under a fence. The two allegedly entered four different Slager trucks and stole equipment. The incident was caught on surveillance video, which police say also shows the vehicle the two used to flee the scene. The estimated value of the stolen items is $3,750.

Ayers’ reported accomplice was pulled over by police three days after the burglary…allegedly wearing the same clothing as in the security video. A search of the truck turned up some of the stolen merchandise.

Police say a subsequent search of Ayers’ former residence on Taylor Drive turned up more items stolen from Slager. He allegedly admitted to committing the burglary.

Ayers is charged with 2nd Degree Theft and four counts of 3rd Degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 13 years in prison.