Fort Wayne man charged with stealing $65k in jewelry from Hobart JCPenney’s

Matthew Popplewell, 50, was charged with burglary, theft, and auto theft after stealing $65,000 in jewelry from a JCPenney’s at Southlake Mall by smashing the glass door with a hammer. Police found him in possession of stolen necklaces, clothing, and drug paraphernalia after a chase that ended in his arrest in Chicago. Popplewell admitted to being high on cocaine and Xanax but denied stealing the jewelry, providing DNA swabs and evidence of planning the theft through online searches and an Uber trip to the mall.

Full Article