IC area transient with string of alleged crimes arrested Sunday

Hunter
12/14/20

An area transient wanted for several alleged crimes was arrested by North Liberty police Sunday when he was found with a stolen bike.

32-year-old Adam Vanourney, whose last known address was on 13th Avenue in Coralville, began his alleged crime string on May 20th of last year, when he was accused of passing a fake $20 bill at Zombie Burger in Coral Ridge Mall. Under Miranda, Vanourney reportedly admitted to getting nearly $17 in change back so that he could buy food elsewhere.

A year later, Vanourney reportedly took over $70 in merchandise from the Iowa City Menards. He was later contacted after the May 19th incident and allegedly admitted to the theft.

On September 28th, Vanourney is accused of stealing nearly $900 in items from a construction site on South Linn Street. Video shows Vanourney getting into the site and taking tools. Social media accounts show Vanourney wearing the same clothing at the time of the alleged crime. He went back to the same site on October 12th with his girlfriend, who is also known to police. Video footage shows the two entering the site, discussing something, and stuffing items into their backpacks minutes later. Vanourney allegedly was wearing similar clothing to the ones he wore when he visited the site earlier. About $2150 in items were taken in the second incident.

On October 22nd, Vanourney allegedly pawned a $450 Specialized commuter bike  at Money And More on South Riverside Drive that had been reported stolen from a bike rack in Downtown Iowa City five days earlier.

Warrants were requested for all of the incidents Vanourney is accused of.

Police finally caught up with him on Sunday night, when he was in possession of a Giant bicycle that had been reported stolen on the 10th by the University of Iowa Department of Public Security. That cycle was valued at about $400.

Vanourney faces two charges of 5th degree Theft, two charges of 3rd degree Burglary, and charges of 3rd and 4th degree Theft. If convicted on all charges, he could be sentenced to over 13 years in prison.