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Thief escapes with just 50 cents

By Ben Garbarek - bio | email | Twitter

LEWISPORT, KY (WFIE) - Police said Roger Burnett walked into Lewisport Laundry looking to steal some money and left with just 50 cents, giving new meaning to the phrase crime doesn't pay.

Local police said this ranks as one of the strangest crimes they've ever seen.

"You see a lot of strange things," John Garner, Lewisport Police Chief, said. "I've had guys, you see them absolutely on the wall trying to pull the change machine out of the wall, stuff like that. Yeah this one is up there with the strange ones you do see."

Burnett is no stranger to authorities. Police said he stole from two other businesses in nearby Hawesville and the laundromat's security video led police to Burnett.

"Lewisport Laundry has a very good video system, multiple cameras," Garner said. "In fact, it was the best video of all the places he burglarized that was able to I.D. him."

Finding the suspect wasn't hard for Lewisport Police.

Police said Roger Burnett showed up to a parole hearing wearing the same clothes shown on the video from the laundromat during the burglary.

Owner Bobby Wheatley wouldn't appear on camera but said the burglary is unfortunate and he's already willing to let it go and move on, but police said they won't forget this case anytime soon.

"This will be one of those humorous stories that you'll remember for a long time," Garner said. "A fellow broke in and got 50 cents."

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