Suspected shoplifter hides in sewer pipe because he thought he had a probation violation. He didn’t.

Credit: STEVEN SENNE

Credit: STEVEN SENNE

Fairfield Twp. officers found a man, believed to be a shoplifter, hiding in a sewer pipe because he thought he was wanted for a probation violation.

The man fled Kohl’s at 3173 Princeton Road at 8:43 p.m. on May 20 after the store’s loss prevention officer said he attempted to steal merchandise.

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The loss prevention officer said she gave chase and saw the man running into the wooded area behind the store. She also said she saw him discard something into the wooded area.

The loss prevention officer told police she noticed the man “lay down in the wooded area.”

Two police officers entered the wooded area near the Hobby Lobby parking lot and found the man “partially submerged in a sewage pipe trying to hide.”

Officers said the man came out of the pipe willingly and cooperated with officers.

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According to the police report, the man stated, “‘I was hiding because I have a probation violation.’”

Officers checked, but he didn’t have any probation violations or warrants for his arrest.

Because the loss prevention officer couldn’t prove the man stole any items, police transported him to his home in Hamilton.

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