Man arrested in New Albany for stealing furniture

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August 24, 2012

Man arrested in New Albany for stealing furniture

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newandtribune.com The News and Tribune Fri Aug 24, 2012, 07:02 PM EDT

NEW ALBANY — A man was arrested by New Albany police after he broke into an unoccupied home along State Street, then invited employees of the nearby Discount Furniture to the home in an attemp to sell the furnishings.

Antwan Deshawn Johnson, 23, who told police he is homeless, has been charged with burglary, a class C felony, and theft, a class D felony.

According to the incident report from New Albany police, Johnson admitted to entering a home in the 1600 block of State Street, through an unlocked door on Aug. 19. The house is being used for storage by its owner.

Inside the home Johnson found a group of keys, which included a key to the home, which he took and apparently used to regain entry to the residence in the coming days, the report states.

Arthur Henderson, an employee at Discount Furniture, located at 1207 State St., said he is an acquaintance of Johnson and that Johnson approached him on Aug. 22 and asked him if he was interested in purchasing some furniture he had for sale.

Henderson said they went to the home along State Street, which Johnson unlocked with a key and that Johnson showed the furniture in the home as if it was his own.

Henderson contacted the owner of Discount Furniture who also went to the home and ultimately agreed to buy a chair and corner cabinet for $65.

Police went to Discount Furniture on Aug. 23 with Henderson and the home owner and found the stolen chair on display for sale outside of the business. The corner cabinet was also located inside the store, according to the report.

Police were able to make contact with the mother of Johnson’s girlfriend who said that he was staying at her home in the 1600 block of Walnut Street.

The woman called police later in the day to inform officers that Johnson and her daughter were on their way to her home.

Police met Johnson in the driveway of the home and took him into custody.