INDIANAPOLIS – A suspected thief’s fondness for Funyuns led to his arrest last week.
Robbery detectives said 55-year-old Alonzo Sansbury was responsible for a pair of thefts on the north side that happened about 30 minutes apart on Friday.
The first one happened at Dollar Tree on North Keystone Avenue; a man attempted to pay with a fake $100 bill before demanding money from the register.
The same suspect targeted Big Lots on North Allisonville Road shortly after that, displaying a handgun before taking cash and some Funyuns.
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from both robberies; video showed the suspect wore a gray long-sleeve shirt, black stocking cap, gray sweatpants and black and orange shoes. He also had a noticeable limp, police said, and left in a white van.
Police tracked down the suspect, later identified as Sansbury, using information from license plate readers. He was located at a gas station. A search of his vehicle turned up clothes like the ones seen in the surveillance footage. Investigators also discovered Funyuns in the van.
The investigation involved IMPD Covert Robbery, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Auto Theft Unit, and the IMPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
Sansbury is charged with robbery and attempted robbery.