On July 21, 2025, at approximately 2:30 P.M., Officer Keesey of the Austin Police Department was dispatched to Runnings located at 1400 18% Avenue NW in the City of Austin, County of Mower, for a report of a past action theft. Officer Keesey arrived and made contact with the store manager (H. H., an adult male). E. H. Advised that on July 19, 2025, at approximately 12:45 P.M., an unknown male entered the store and stole multiple items. B. H. Provided security footage of the incident showing the unknown male, later identified as THOMAS JEROLD KOHL, DOB/061375, the defendant herein, steal a backpack and fill it with miscellaneous merchandise and leave the store without paying.
The items stolen include the backpack, clothing, a laser distance measure, an extension cord, and other miscellaneous merchandise. The total value of the items stolen is $370.41. On July 29, 2025, Officer Keesey was dispatched to Runnings again for a report of another theft involving the defendant. E. H. Advised Keesey that on that day at approximately 1:53 P.M., the defendant came into the store and stole a Milwaukee Hammerdrill tool and battery valued at $648.00. E. H. Provided security footage of the incident showing the defendant enter the store, walk over to the Milwaukee tool section, pull out a cutter, cut the metal lanyard securing the Hammerdrill tool, and take the item.
The defendant then walks over to the Milwaukee batteries, cuts the locking peg, and steals a battery. The defendant then takes the items and leaves the store without paying. On August 1, 2025, at approximately 1:15 P.M., Officer Keesey was on routine patrol when he drove past 1001 4t® Avenue NE and observed the defendant who he recognized from the Runnings thefts. Keesey made contact with the defendant and asked him if he had been to Runnings recently. The defendant stated that he has not. When Keesey advised him that the defendant was on video, the defendant stated that he did not want to talk anymore.
The defendant was placed under arrest and transported to the Mower County Jail.
