BEDFORD – A Bedford man was arrested after Bedford Police Officers were called to St. Vincent Thrift Store at 12:55 a.m. on Monday, May 29 after a report of a theft in progress.
When police arrived at the store at 920 17th Street the female caller who was inside the store told police she saw a male going through donated items that were placed at the front of the store on the security camera. She then called 911. A male employee told police he watched the male on the security camera and then walked outside as soon as he saw a police car arrive. That is when the male took off running south around the building.
The caller told police they have made attempts to catch this same individual for stealing items in the past, but he had always gotten away.
Police found 33-year-old Cody Keefe hiding inside a fenced area between two dumpsters. A box of clothing stolen from the store was located near the area where Keefe was found.
Keefe told police he believed the items were free for anyone to take. He then admitted he knew he was not supposed to take the items but he was having a hard time and needed the clothes and had stolen them. He then admitted this was not the first time he had taken items from the store. He claimed he had only taken a few shirts and pants.
He was then issued a no-trespass order preventing him from returning to the store and was arrested on charges of theft with a prior conviction.
The approximate value of all the items stolen was $20.
