IC Police ID shoplifter after she allegedly orders birthday cake while committing thefts

Lang
8/28/22

Iowa City Police say they were able to identify a shoplifter after she left her name and phone number when ordering a birthday cake while she was committing the thefts.

According to arrest records, 31-year-old Mikiala Collins of Sherman Drive left the Waterfront Hy-Vee with a cart full of $176.95 in unpaid groceries just before 11:45am on August 20th. Collins was reportedly stopped in the parking lot by Hy-Vee staff and fled the scene, leaving the groceries behind.

Investigators determined that Collins had ordered a birthday cake from the Hy-Vee bakery while she was in the process of committing the thefts, giving Hy-Vee staff her name and phone number. She was later charged with 5th Degree Theft, a Simple Misdemeanor carrying a maximum jail sentence of 30 days.

Collins was charged with one count of Animal Neglect Causing Serious Injury or Death and two counts of Animal Neglect in August of 2020 after police say she left a pair of dogs locked in a  car with no food or water for several days. Online records do not list the next court date in that case.