Police: Cedar Rapids man ambushed, robbed in home by former co-worker

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man is accused of breaking into another man’s residence and ambushing him to steal his wallet.

John Edward Sanders, 49, is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and one count each of first-degree burglary and assault with intent to inflict serious injury.

According to a criminal complaint, Sanders entered the man’s residence before he came home Dec. 17, 2021. When the man arrived, Sanders came up behind him, began choking him and threatened to kill him.

Sanders was digging in the man’s pockets to find his wallet, and the man eventually gave it to him. Sanders also reportedly took the man’s car keys and phone, but returned them the next day.

Sanders knew that the day of the robbery was payday, as the two had previously worked together, authorities said.

This was not the first time Sanders robbed the man, according to court documents. He also stole the man’s wallet in November 2021.

Warrants for both robberies were issued last Thursday, and Sanders was arrested Tuesday.

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