In a daring act of theft, Cody Denning found himself in hot water after being apprehended and charged with a string of offenses, including burglary, theft of property, and vandalism, for his involvement in a break-in at Underdog Collectibles in Knoxville. The audacious heist saw Denning abscond with a whopping 17 valuable autographed jerseys, amassing a hefty total of nearly $22,000 in losses for the store.
The brazen burglary transpired late on May 18, with Denning first making a reconnaissance visit to the store to survey the very jerseys he later pilfered. Surveillance footage captured his suspicious behavior as he meticulously perused and rearranged the jerseys around 8:50 p.m., even going so far as to discuss his sinister plans with his wife. His nefarious intentions came to fruition several hours later when he ruthlessly shattered the store’s front window using a rock, seizing the opportunity to conduct two separate thefts in the wee hours of the morning.
Denning’s misguided attempts to unload some of the ill-gotten goods were swiftly thwarted when he brazenly attempted to peddle two of the stolen jerseys at a local sports retailer, Pro Image Sports, situated in the West Town Mall. Law enforcement officials also highlighted that damning evidence from surveillance footage captured from Denning’s vehicle showcased a cache of missing hats from the store, further solidifying his complicity in the heist.
Following the harrowing incident, Underdog Collectibles turned to social media in a bid to rally public support and aid in the recovery of the purloined jerseys. They implored vigilant citizens to stay on the lookout for the stolen merchandise and provided specific serial numbers for verification, marking a crucial step in their quest to both apprehend the culprit and secure the safe return of the pilfered items.
Assuring the community that the structural damage inflicted upon the store was relatively minor and that no individuals were harmed during the break-in, Underdog Collectibles continued to beseech the public for assistance in tracking down the stolen jerseys. By enlisting the collective help of the community, they hoped to not only prevent any further thefts but also accelerate the pace of their ongoing recovery efforts in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident.
