Police: Man previously convicted of theft allegedly strikes again

IOWA CITY - A man with two previous theft convictions is allegedly responsible for a burglary and two separate unauthorized credit card uses that occurred within the last month, police said.

Police arrested Nathaniel Lee Burgs, 53, of Coralville Thursday, March 31 on charges of alleged burglary, unauthorized use of a credit card, theft and identity theft. Authorities also tagged on charges of theft and unauthorized credit card use for an earlier occurrence, police said.

On Wednesday, March 9, Police responded to a reported theft and home invasion. The alleged victim told police she was home when Burgs entered her home and stole her wallet.

Officers said an investigation revealed that the victim's debit-card was used about a half-hour later at a Casey's Convince Store for gas. Later, the card was used at K-Mart to purchase a Sony PlayStation 3. Police said Burgs charged $320 dollars in unauthorized purchases.

Police said they also suspected Burgs was involved in the theft and unauthorized transactions that occurred on Monday, February 14. Officers said a woman reported that  she either left her credit card at a K-Mart check-out counter or it was swiped out of her left jacket pocket. Fourteen unauthorized purchases were made on that card.

Police said they identified Burgs using surveillance video. Burgs has previous theft convictions from April 7 and July 23, 1998.

Burgs entered the Johnson County Jail on Saturday, April 2.

Second-degree burglary is a Class C Felony, with a maximum punishment of a ten year prison sentence and $10,000 fine.