Elkhart Man Faces Forgery, Theft Charges After Allegedly Stealing Checks

March 24, 2020 at 11:17 p.m.

By Amanda [email protected]

An Elkhart man is facing felony fraud and theft charges after allegedly cashing stolen checks.

Thomas A. Elsasser, 46, Elkhart, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:46 p.m. Monday and faces charges of forgery and theft, both Level 6 felonies.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed Dec. 27 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, on Dec. 6 Indiana State Police spoke to a business owner who said that on Dec. 5, two unidentified men came to his business, stole checks and that he’s been notified by his bank that a check had been used and cashed.

Police reviewed surveillance footage from the business and saw two unidentified black men enter the store, according to the affidavit. One of the men appeared to show interest in purchasing a vehicle, while the other man could be seen going through an employee’s office space and taking checkbooks from the office before both men left.

Police went to the bank branch where the check had been cashed and spoke with a bank employee who said Elsasser cashed a check for $3,900 and presented his state-issued identification while doing so, according to court papers. No further court record information for the other two unidentified subjects was available.

Elsasser, who has had a warrant out for his arrest for these charges since Dec. 27, has a bond set at $9,000. He’s due in court at 1 p.m. Thursday for an initial hearing.

An Elkhart man is facing felony fraud and theft charges after allegedly cashing stolen checks.

Thomas A. Elsasser, 46, Elkhart, was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail at 12:46 p.m. Monday and faces charges of forgery and theft, both Level 6 felonies.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed Dec. 27 in Kosciusko Superior Court III, on Dec. 6 Indiana State Police spoke to a business owner who said that on Dec. 5, two unidentified men came to his business, stole checks and that he’s been notified by his bank that a check had been used and cashed.

Police reviewed surveillance footage from the business and saw two unidentified black men enter the store, according to the affidavit. One of the men appeared to show interest in purchasing a vehicle, while the other man could be seen going through an employee’s office space and taking checkbooks from the office before both men left.

Police went to the bank branch where the check had been cashed and spoke with a bank employee who said Elsasser cashed a check for $3,900 and presented his state-issued identification while doing so, according to court papers. No further court record information for the other two unidentified subjects was available.

Elsasser, who has had a warrant out for his arrest for these charges since Dec. 27, has a bond set at $9,000. He’s due in court at 1 p.m. Thursday for an initial hearing.
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