PORTAGE, Mich. — A 34-year-old man accused of robbing several Aldi stores across Michigan is now facing multiple felony charges after being apprehended in South Dakota, authorities said.
Kaleb Michael Schaffer has been charged with at least three counts of armed robbery and is currently being held without bond at the Kalamazoo County Jail, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety.
Investigators believe Schaffer was behind a robbery at the Aldi grocery store on South Westnedge Avenue near East Milham Avenue in Portage on December 10. During the incident, he reportedly asked to speak with the manager, implied he was armed, and demanded money. Surveillance footage captured him wearing a mask and a low-slung hat to conceal his identity.
Police say Schaffer returned to the same location on January 18 and committed a similar robbery.
As Portage police investigated a robbery, they discovered a pattern of similar incidents occurring at Aldi stores across Michigan. In each case, the suspect would ask to speak with the store manager before demanding money while claiming to have a weapon.
The investigation gained traction following a robbery on January 18. Authorities traced the suspect, identified as Shaffer, to his residence in Lansing. Further investigation linked him to several other Aldi store robberies throughout the state.
Shaffer was arrested in Rapid City, South Dakota on June 4 and extradited to Michigan, where he was formally charged on June 20.
On June 24, police in Meridian Township filed an additional armed robbery charge connected to a January 5 incident at an Aldi store east of Lansing.
Anyone with information related to these cases is urged to contact Portage Public Safety at 269-329-4567 or reach out anonymously to Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.
Source:
https://www.woodtv.com/news/kalamazoo-county/man-accused-of-robbing-multiple-aldi-stores-across-michigan/