About 3:15 pm, a McCracken County Sheriff's Deputy was approached by a man while putting fuel in his patrol car at Hucks in Reidland. The man said he had been a victim of theft inside the store and was missing over $600. The victim said he had just made a cash withdrawal at US Bank on Benton Road and went to Hucks to make a purchase. While at the counter, he took some money out of an envelope to pay for his merchandise, and put the envelope on the counter. After paying, he took his items, put the change in his pocket, and left without taking his envelope.
Deputies say store video apparently shows 56-year-old Keith Vasseur of Paducah was behind the victim while he made his purchase. As Vasseur made his purchases at the counter, video showed he looked at the envelope, the reached over it while getting his change. Deputies say video shows Vasseur turning to walk away, then returning to the counter, taking the envelope, and putting it in his pants pocket without any attempt to find the owner or notify anyone.
Another deputy was in the area of Clarks River Road and John Puryear Drive when he saw a van that matched the one Vasseur was driving in the video. The deputy approached Vasseur after he pulled into a car lot on Clarks River Road. Ultimately, Vasseur admitted to being at Hucks and said he had picked up the envelope by accident. He still had the envelope on him, with the amount of money that was taken from Hucks. Police say Vasseur had the envelope for approximately two hours and had not yet attempted to return the money to the store or the victim.
Vasseur was arrested and taken to McCracken County Jail, charged with theft of property mislaid or delivered by mistake, a class D felony.
Report provided by the McCracken County Sheriff's Department.
