In a brazen act of theft, Cody Denning has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses including burglary, theft of property, and vandalism following his break-in at Underdog Collectibles in Knoxville. The Knoxville Police Department reported that Denning smashed the storefront window and made off with 17 valuable autographed jerseys, totaling almost $22,000 in losses for the store.
The burglary unfolded late on May 18 when Denning initially visited the store, appearing to case the jerseys he later stole. Surveillance footage captured him examining and rearranging the jerseys at approximately 8:50 p.m., during which he mentioned to his wife his plans to return for them. His criminal intentions were realized hours later, when he forcibly entered the store by throwing a rock through the window and conducted two separate thefts early in the morning.
Denning's attempts to liquidate some of the stolen goods were recorded when he tried to sell two of the jerseys at a local sports retailer, Pro Image Sports in West Town Mall. Additionally, police noted that surveillance footage from Denning's vehicle showed multiple hats, also reported missing from the store, confirming his involvement in the theft.
Following the incident, Underdog Collectibles reached out to the public via social media for assistance in recovering the stolen jerseys. They urged anyone who might come across the jerseys to contact them for verification through the serial numbers provided, in hopes of apprehending the perpetrator and retrieving the stolen items.
The store assured the public that the physical damage to the store was minimal and that no one was harmed during the break-in. They continue to seek the public's help in locating the stolen merchandise to prevent further thefts and aid in their recovery efforts.
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