Ann Arbor man accused of trying to steal money from coffee shop tip jar
A 48-year-old Ann Arbor man ordered a glass of water and attempted to steal money from the tip jar from Caribou Coffee on East Stadium Boulevard Monday, police said, but he was arrested after a worker flagged down an Ann Arbor police sergeant.
Caribou Coffee on East Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor.
From Yelp
The woman turned around and asked the man if he had any money in his hands. When he didn’t respond, she told him to open his hands and subsequently saw money falling to the ground.
Bush said the man attempted to leave the store but the woman moved quickly to block him. She called police and then saw an Ann Arbor police cruiser driving by. She left the business to flag down the car. Sgt. Craig Flocken arrested the man on the scene, Bush said.
No one was injured in the incident, and several witnesses gave statements to police. Charges are pending against the man.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
a2nancy
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 5:47 a.m.
How about a tip jar that grabs your hand if you put it in too far! a2nancy
Fester
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
Whoever placed the "tip" jar out to begin with should be arrested. Go to the freeway exits if you want to beg for money
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
Whassamaddayou? These people don't make much, and if you appreciate the service and want to contribute, do so. If not, don't. But some of us like to support those who work hard and do a good job with a little extra. Don't like it? Don't do it.
FormerMichRes
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 10:40 a.m.
Must have been a slow day panhandling. Oh, sorry. Panhandling is an entitled pre-occupation in AA. All kidding aside, I'm glad the guy was arrested and no one was hurt. I'd guess he's already back at the park on Liberty.
clownfish
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
Panhandling is one of the freedoms enjoyed under our constitution. If it bothers you you could go to Singapore where they know how to handle such pervasive threats to your comfort.
RJA
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 2:42 a.m.
Oooops, caught with his hand in the jar! I could see a 48 month old trying something like this, but not a 48 yr. old man. How do you fix stupid?
ranger007
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 4:12 a.m.
You can't fix stupid
Brad
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.
Now was he actually stealing or was he just leaving a negative tip?
G2inA2
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
I have never understood those tip jars at coffee shops and bakeries. As a former wait staff, I am more than happy to leave a generous tip at a restaurant when I receive superior service. Have you ever seen a tip jar at a franchised fast food restaurant such as McDonald's or Wendy's. No. So what do they allow them at Caribou and Starbuck's? I frequently go to Barry's Bagel and they never have a tip jar out. Only their container for the "need a penny, leave a penny" idea. Having said all that, trying to steal from that tip jar is just plain wrong.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
That's a tip.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 4 p.m.
Actually, I have....it said, Kelly's college fund. Kelly was at the drive thru window. I left a time for her and a tip for Ronald McDonald. If you guys can't chip in from your better paying jobs to help hard working kids, then don't. I will.
Hmm
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 6:27 p.m.
If I'm coming in to your coffeeshop/sandwich place/general food eatery and I get an order for takeout I am not leaving you a tip. Sorry but tips are for sit down service ONLY. If you feel like you have to ask for a handout simply because you handed me my order then I think you need to find a better paying job. Never understood why you would leave a tip when you are the one going to the store and basically doing all the work.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
Hmm....Scrooge!
Hmm
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
:)
J. A. Pieper
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
Hmm - several of the young people working at Caribou are also full time students. At least one person has another job they work at. I am a regular at this coffee shop, and I greatly appreciate the wonderful service the workers give me. They know my name, what I like, and we often have conversations about our interests in life. I know other people who work at coffee shops, they love the work they do, and what you may not realize is that a job is a job, and they are not asking for a HANDOUT! With your attitude, I doubt anyone would be leaving you a tip, so count your blessings if you have one of those "better paying jobs!"
grimmk
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 5:26 p.m.
This is the reason that tip jars need to be more secure. 1) Not able to grab and go and 2) The tips drop into a locked box that you can't reach in with a hand.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
At least the jar needs to have a very narrow opening.
arborani
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:26 a.m.
A very *heavy* box, - and maybe on a chain.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
Why not? Caribou didn't build that business, that man is as entitled to that money as anyone else!
clownfish
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
A more accurate comment would be that Caribous customers used the roads to get to Caribou, and their suppliers used those roads, and the coffee came into ports paid for by the taxpayer, or airports subsidized by non-coffee drinkers. Sometimes when comments are taken totally out of context pundits create little lies that are then spread on the internets through the tubes.
Jimmy McNulty
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
Cinnabar7071, apparently no one is wearing their sarcasm detectors.
djm12652
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
@cinn...LOL
John of Saline
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 5:47 p.m.
Doug, Mr. 7071 is referring to comments the President made a few days back.
dougfair
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.
Huh? Those are tips for the EMPLOYEES. I doubt customers leave tips for anyone who just wanders in.
quetzalcoatl
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
This guy might have had a bright future on Wall Street, too, but for that crushing anxiety attack during the GRE.
John of Saline
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
Something tells me he didn't have a well-thought-out plan.
VO Key
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Stealing tips from hardworking minimum wage earners at a coffee joint is really low.
tdw
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
Not the lowest.I worked at a place where I wouldn't allow any March of Dimes or the like type of things because they would get stolen ( and this was a nice place in A2 ) On a side note what are the odds of actually being able to" flag down " a real living cop in A2