Lang
6/22/23
A theft suspect allegedly stole thousands of dollars in merchandise from the Iowa City Menard’s after allegedly hiding items in a trash can on multiple occasions.
54-year-old Shane Hauser was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 2:45 Wednesday afternoon. Iowa City Police say on five different occasions between April 29th and June 11th Hauser entered the Naples Avenue store, put multiple items inside a trash can, then left the store with the stolen goods still inside the can. Each incident was caught on surveillance video. The amount of stolen items increased with each theft, starting at just over $400 and ending with an attempt to steal over $1,500 in merchandise.
Hauser also reportedly showed his driver’s license to a Menard’s staffer during one of the visits.
The arresting officer notes that when he arrived at Hauser’s East Burlington Street apartment to investigate the case, he noticed a new keypad doorknob that had been reported stolen in one of the thefts.
Hauser is charged with 2nd Degree Theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison.