Police: ‘Quick-change’ artist stealing from area restaurants

Local News

August 28, 2010

Emily Burton Register News Writer The Richmond Register Sat Aug 28, 2010, 12:00 PM EDT

RICHMOND — Two Richmond restaurants lost money to a quick-change artist on Tuesday, according to Richmond Police Chief, Larry Brock.

A man — described as in his late 40s to early 50s, with graying facial hair, and balding hair, about 6-feet-one-inch tall, and weighing about 200 pounds — purchased an ice cream cone at Sonic, 613 Big Hill Ave., and paid with a $20 bill, for which he was provided change, Brock said. The man then asked for change for the larger bills he was given into smaller bills. He laid differing denominations of money on the waitresses’ tray, in an effort to confuse her, Brock said. Then man was able to steal $40 cash.

That same day, at Wendy’s at 113 N. Keenland Drive, the man ordered an iced tea and according to Brock, “engaged the employee in a similar routine,” stealing $140 cash from the business.

The man was driving a red newer model extended cab pickup truck with a silver front end, Brock said.

Other crimes

• On Monday, a resident of the 100 block of Bradbury Court told police that $15,026 in jewelry and prescription medication, and a handgun had been stolen from her residence sometime Aug. 19. Reported stolen was a .22-caliber revolver, a woman’s ring made from a gold brooch, comprised of six diamonds ranging from one-eighth of a karat to one-quarter of a karat in a cross formation with a thick gold band, and a bottle of prescription medication.

• A resident of the 200 block of Bay Colony Court told police that someone had rummaged through his two unlocked vehicles overnight Aug. 19 and stolen a silver Nintendo DS valued at $130.

• A driver for O.K. Cab Company told police that sometime Tuesday, and unknown customer passed her a counterfeit $50 bill, serial number 1H04140133A. The female driver went to put $49 in gas in her car at Swifty gas station, 411 Big Hill Ave., handing the clerk there the bill. The clerk at the gas station realized the bill was fake, Brock said, and handed it back to the driver, who then turned it over to police.

• A student at Madison Central High School, 705 N. 2nd St., told police that her purse had been stolen from an unlocked classroom on Aug. 20. The purse contained a LG ENV3 cellphone and $11 cash. The phone, purse and cash are valued at $415.

• A guest at Best Western, 100 Eastern Bypass, told police on Wednesday that $1,015 worth of Vicodin, and other prescription medication was stolen from the trunk of his car while he was unloading his possessions into his hotel room. The man told police he had purchased 30- and 90-day supplies of the drugs via the Internet. Stolen was Pitiazam, Plavix, Lores, Potassium Chloride, Furosamide, Vesicare and Allopurinal Simestatin.

• On Wednesday, a resident of the 300 block of 4th Street, told police that someone had broken into her residence that evening and stolen a Toshiba laptop computer, and a blue and white Fuji digital camera. Both items are valued at $850.

Anyone with any information on these crimes is asked to call the Police Department at 623-8911 or 623-1162.

Emily Burton may be reached at eburton@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694. Follow Emily on Twitter at, RR_EBurton@twitter.com

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