NASHVILLE,
Tenn. –
Two alert security guards helped police catch a suspect in a three-month crime
spree after the man stole over $20,000 in high end purses from a store in Green
Hills.
Officials
said 40-year-old Kenneth Anyanwu shoplifted six purses from the Louis Vuitton
store at The Mall at Green Hills off Hillsboro Pike Thursday around 8 p.m.
Anyanwu
reportedly walked into the store, grabbed the bags and ran.
The purses
were estimated at $22,000.
A security
guard tried to stop Anyanwu and managed to tackle him. Witnesses said he got
away only after pulling a gun and threatening the guard and two nearby women.
Anyanwu apparently
lost his show in the process.
Witnesses
reported Anyanwu then ran into a parking garage where another man was waiting
in a Pontiac Grand Prix.
Another
security guard tried to stop the suspects, but officials said Anyanwu pointed
the gun at him, as well.
The vehicle
drove up the parking garage to the exit. Anyanwu was not inside the car.
A short time
later, an officer with the Metro Nashville Police Department found Anyanwu in a
nearby parking lot.
After a short
foot pursuit, the officer took Anywanu into custody. He was charged with four
counts of aggravated assault, felony theft of merchandise, evading arrest and
resisting arrest.
The other
suspect was able to get away with the purses and was still at large.
Police said
Anyanwu was wanted for at least six robberies at the Madison Best Buy since
June. According to affidavits, Anyanwu helped himself to more than $6,000 worth
of laptops and video game consoles.
He was also expected
to be charged in two additional thefts at the Louis Vuittan store.
At the time
of the robbery, Anyanwu was free on bond for another shoplifting care at the
Walmart on Hamilton Church Road in Antioch. Officials said he stole a flat
screen TV.
Investigators
said Anyanwu had eight previous convictions for theft on his record going back
to 2009.
Kenneth Anyanwu, age 40 (Photo courtesy Metro Nashville Police Department)
