Hunter
12/29/24
An Iowa City man with a history of theft convictions was charged for the same offense at two different stores on the same day.
The first incident occurred Friday just after 5pm at the CVS store on Muscatine Avenue. 44-year-old Charles Smith of the Town and Campus Apartments on Arthur Street was allegedly observed on camera putting a bottle of Tito’s Vodka into his sweatshirt, walking past all points of sale, and exiting the store without attempting to pay for the item.
Then at approximately 7:45pm, Smith visited the Kum & Go on Muscatine Avenue and allegedly stole 3 Oreo Cakes, 3 Ice Cream Twix and two Dibs ice cream containers.
Smith has prior theft convictions from 2022; one from Des Moines County and another from Lee County.
He was arrested and charged with two counts of 3rd degree Theft. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison.