Two men arrested in connection to Cedar Rapids theft

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Two men were arrested by Cedar Rapids police in connection with thefts on Monday

Officers responded to reports of a theft in progress at Dick’s Sporting Goods on 1st Avenue SE at 6:11 p.m. Monday night. Two suspects are accused of leaving the store with a shopping cart containing around $1,395 in products without paying. The suspects left the scene in a 1997 Chevrolet S10 truck.

Upon arrival, officers found the suspect’s car in a parking lot nearby. Authorities spotted the suspects inside Bed, Bath & Beyond. As part of the investigation, both were detained.

Officers determined that the Chevrolet truck had been stolen from Waterloo. Additional investigation resulted in items stolen from Walgreen’s earlier in the afternoon. The stolen merchandise was worth approximately $1,048.

Waterloo residents, Steven Andrew Esparza and Jessica Nicole Morris, were arrested for two counts of third degree theft. Additionally, Esparza faces a charge of theft in the second degree. He also had outstanding warrants from the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office and Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office.

The two of them were taken to the Linn County Correctional Center.