Normally don't bother with the "dumb criminals" stuff in this thread - crime and ridiculous seem to go too well together - but this one was too delicious not to include.Hours after being sentenced for theft, St. Paul man tries to steal again, charges sayHours after he was sentenced for theft in Dakota County, authorities say a man tried to walk out of a St. Paul Sears store with layers of apparel he hadn’t paid for tucked under his clothing.
Alphonso Terry Whitelaw, 32, of St. Paul was charged Friday, March 3, 2017 in Ramsey County District Court with one count of first-degree aggravated robbery and another count of second-degree assault. He is accused of pulling a knife on a store employee after allegedly trying to steal clothing from a Sears in St. Paul. Photo courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
Alphonso Terry Whitelaw
On his way out of the store, Alphonso Terry Whitelaw dropped a couple of pairs of jeans and a hoodie, catching the attention of a nearby employee trained to spot stealing, according to the criminal complaint filed against him Friday in Ramsey County District Court.
The complaint charges the 32-year-old with one count of first-degree aggravated robbery and a second count of second-degree assault for the Feb. 21 offense, which authorities say took place at Sears at 425 Rice Street
Store staff saw Whitelaw walk into a dressing room with a stack of clothing and walk out with much of the attire seemingly layered under his clothes and other articles stuffed into his clothing, the complaint said.
When the employee stopped him, Whitelaw pulled out a knife and said “Don’t touch me,” before fleeing, the complaint said.
Police later tracked Whitelaw down after the employee found a warrant of commitment for Whitelaw left behind in his dressing room. It indicated the St. Paul man had been been in Dakota County District Court on misdemeanor theft charges earlier that morning and had received a stayed sentence along with the paperwork forgotten in the dressing room, according to the complaint.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/03/06/hours-after-being-sentenced-for-theft-st-paul-man-tries-to-steal-again-charges-say/