Remorse results in theft charges for I.C. man

CORALVILLE - An Iowa City man faces two theft charges after calling police to admit stealing video games and gift cards from Target, police said.

Robert L. Mitchell, 25, of 540 Dubuque St., Iowa City, was charged with second-degree theft and fourth-degree theft based on allegations that he stole nearly $1,720 in merchandise Tuesday and Thursday from the store at Coral Ridge Mall.

Mitchell called Coralville police Thursday to report he had just stolen three video games and 22 activated third-party gift cards worth $50 apiece, police reported.

Target officials told police on Thursday that Mitchell had been seen on video Tuesday stealing a $250 flat-screen television from the store. Mitchell, riding a motorized shopping scooter, put the TV in the basket, drove to the front of the store and walked out with the TV, Lt. Shane Kron said.

Mitchell then took the TV to Scheels, where he asked employees to remove the Target security tag. Kron did not know how Scheels reacted to this request, but the Tuesday theft was not immediately reported to police.

“The whole thing came apart when he called and said he felt guilty,” Kron said.

Second-degree theft is a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $7,500 fine. Fourth-degree theft is a serious misdemeanor that carries a maximum of one year in prison and a $1,500 fine.