Alleged Sears robber is in custody

A Kenner man’s theft crime spree to support an apparent heroin habit allegedly spread to St. Charles Parish where he is a suspect in a robbery at Sears in Luling.

Kenner Police spokesman Sgt. Brian McGregor said Jeffery Rudolph, 43, of 4836 Zenith St., was recently arrested by Kenner Police and will be transferred to St. Charles Parish.Capt. Pat Yoes, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said Rudolph faces a charge of theft of goods under $500 and second-degree battery.

At 9 a.m. Nov. 19, Sears surveillance cameras showed a man, later identified as Rudolph, in a black shirt and tan shorts walk into the Sears on U.S. Highway 90 and walk out with two Craftsman tool kits valued at nearly $500. The suspect put the tool kits in the back of a tan or beige Chevrolet Silverado truck and fled.

St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne posted the video on CrimeStoppers and asked for help to identify the man.McGregor said Rudolph has a long list of prior theft charges.

In December of last year, Rudolph was charged with theft of jewelry and others items from Jefferson Parish stores and then rearrested on Jan. 11 at Target when store security caught him trying to take a coffee maker and a Ninja blender.

McGregor said store security recognized Rudolph from previous thefts from the store.

Rudolph was accused of these thefts while he was on bond on six counts of theft from Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 arrests, according to arrest and court records.

McGregor said when they interviewed him that Rudolph told them he was stealing to support his heroin addiction.Rudolph’s known priors date back to November of 2013 when Kenner Police arrested him for allegedly stealing a pair of wedding rings valued at $3,000 at Esplanade Mall.

McGregor said once the rings were in his hands, he reportedly announced he was running out and taking them – and he did.

The store clerk picked his face out of a photo line-up. McGregor said they arrested him on Dec. 21 and he confessed to stealing the jewelry. This arrest resulted in five counts of theft charges and him being held on $5,000 bond.

 

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