Man charged with stealing women’s underwear at laundromat now accused of stealing more underwear during apartment break-ins

Lang
1/16/21

An Iowa City man accused of stealing women’s underwear at a laundromat last month now faces charges that he broke into two apartments to also steal women’s underwear.

37-year-old Nicholas Cohrs of South Riverside Drive is accused of stealing women’s underwear from Clean Laundry on Highway 1 West on the evening of December 18th. Iowa City Police now say he also broke into a pair of apartments on Myrtle Avenue just after 7:30pm on October 12th and stole women’s underwear. Residents of one apartment came home to find a bedroom window screen broken out and the window ajar. The only items missing were pairs of women’s underwear. Other, more valuable items were left behind.

While investigating that burglary, officers noticed another window screen broken out. The resident in that apartment said she had heard a noise, but thought it was coming from outside. Again, only women’s underwear was stolen with more valuable items left untouched.

Investigators were eventually able to confirm Cohrs was at the Myrtle Avenue location on the night of the break-ins because he wears a GPS ankle bracelet as part of his probation relating to an earlier conviction.

Cohrs is charged with 2nd Degree Burglary and 3rd Degree Burglary relating to the Myrtle Avenue break-ins. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Cohrs still faces charges of 3rd Degree Theft and Interference with Official Acts Resulting in Bodily Injury relating to the Clean Laundry theft and his subsequent attempt to flee from police. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of three years behind bars.