By Staff
NILES – A Niles man allegedly took shoplifting to a new level – walking out with expensive power tools valued at $3,400.
The thefts were at the Tractor Supply and Rural King stores off South 11th St. in Niles Township from May 1 through June 26, according to D/Lt. David Chandler of the Berrien County Sheriff's Office, St. Joseph.
Officers from the Niles Township Patrol had been investigating these multiple retail fraud investigations.
Approximately eight times a suspect walked in the two stores, carrying out high valued items without paying, such as Dewalt power tools, welders and power washers.
The suspect, later identified as Timothy Scott Bowker, 41, of 3134 M-51, Niles, early on June 26, allegedly walked into Tractor Supply Company again leaving with a power washer without paying.
Acting on a tip, after several hours of surveillance on a residence in Roseland, Ind. detectives observed Bowker leaving a residence and with the assistance from St. Joseph County Police (Indiana) arrested Bowker without incident.
He was already wanted by Michigan authorities on various felony warrants, absconder from Michigan Department of Correction, felony warrant from the Berrien County Sheriff's Office for retail fraud and three felony warrants out of Cass County court system.
Bowker voluntary waived extradition back to Michigan, were he was lodged at the Berrien County Jail in St. Joseph.
On July 8, Bowker pled guilty to two charges of retail fraud second degree and will be sentenced on Aug. 18. He will eventually face charges in Cass County.