WARSAW — A Cromwell man faces multiple criminal charges connected to numerous thefts from Menards.

Cory Edward Johnson, 42, 11105 North Wawasee Circle West, Cromwell, was recently arrested on a warrant for eight counts of theft and four counts of sentence enhancement theft.

Cory Edward Johnson

Johnson was arrested in connection with a series of thefts from the Menards in Warsaw between Sept. 13 and Nov. 9, 2019. The loss for Menards from the thefts was estimated to be $7,499.87.

On Nov. 19, 2019, police spoke with a Menards employee about nine thefts. The employee told police that a person was seen pushing a cart of merchandise through the lumberyard with a paid invoice. Upon checking the invoice, the employee discovered that the merchandise did not match the invoice. The invoice was paid with a Menards credit registered to Cory Johnson.

Police identified Johnson as the culprit of the thefts through photographs provided by Menards and his driver’s license, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

According to police, the first theft occurred on Sept. 13, 2019. Johnson allegedly paid for trim boards but left the store with more expensive boards. The loss to Menards was $116.

On Sept. 21, Johnson picked up merchandise using an invoice he used to pick up items previously on Sept. 13. The total loss for Menards was $988.66, said the affidavit.

On Sept. 25, Oct. 1, Oct. 3, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, Johnson allegedly purchased polystyrene and other items, but loaded the more expensive variety of polystyrene. The loss for Menards in these five instances totaled $2,965.24.

On Oct. 24 and Nov. 9, Johnson allegedly paid for less expensive materials but left the store with more expensive materials. The loss for Menards in these two instances totaled $3,429.97.

Police went to Johnson’s residence at 1105 North Wawasee Circle West, Cromwell. According to the affidavit, the residence appeared to be recently built or remodeled. When police talked to Johnson, he referred to his actions as “bargain shopping,” said the affidavit.

On Jan. 21, Johnson was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail with a bond of $5,250 surety and cash.

Johnson was convicted of conversion in 1997 in Allen County Superior Court 4.