Police: Cape man stole $7,000 from Schnucks, used money for wedding

A Cape Girardeau man expressed remorse for stealing about $7,000 from a local grocery store in less than a year and said he would pay any restitution imposed on him, police said.

The Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney's office charged Gregory Van Johnson Jr. with felony theft of more than $500.

The Cape Girardeau County circuit clerk issued Johnson a summons Friday to appear in court at 1 p.m. Sept. 12 in Jackson.

An asset-protection specialist at Schnucks in Cape Girardeau observed on surveillance video Johnson stealing $5,148 during 104 transactions between Jan. 3 and April 25, according to a probable-cause statement filed by Cpl. Richard Couch of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Johnson was documented stealing another $1,980 in cash in 40 transactions between Oct. 31 and Dec. 26, Couch wrote.

Couch contacted Johnson at Schnucks and interviewed him at the police station May 2, according to the statements.

After Johnson was read his Miranda rights, he provided a handwritten statement admitting he took the money he was accused of stealing, Couch wrote.

Johnson said he gave the money to family members and his church and used it to pay for his upcoming wedding, according to the statement.

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Pertinent address: 19 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO