Police: Wedding guest tried to steal couple's gifts

ajc.com

Credit: Montgomery County Jail mug

Credit: Montgomery County Jail mug

Staff called police late Saturday after noticing all of the day's receipts totaling more than $6,800 in checks and cash were missing, along with 55 unopened wedding cards containing checks and gift cards, totaling about $6,800. The items were missing from a safe in the office, according to a Dayton police report.

Before police arrived, all of the missing items were found inside a tuxedo garment bag behind some bushes near the entrance to the market. Staff said the bag belonged to Howard, who was let inside the office when he had asked to change his clothes, according to the report.

Surveillance video showed Howard enter the office and later emerge with the garment bag appearing heavy and swaying when he walked, the report stated.

When police interviewed Howard he said he did not know how the items got inside his bag and said maybe an employee placed it there.

Howard was booked into the County Jail on suspicion of felony theft. He is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon, online jail records show.