By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

Police said a Salisbury man who was taken in by a local couple was charged after he stole and pawned the wife’s jewelry. The man was also charged with taking money from a former co-worker.

Salisbury Police charged Kurt Andrew Zimmerman, 33, of the 1200 block of North Church Street, with two counts of felony larceny, misdemeanor larceny, and three counts of felony obtaining property by false pretenses.

The couple allowed Zimmerman, whom the husband has known since June, to stay at their home until he got back on his feet, said Police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

On Sept. 28, the husband and wife left the house to go to work, and when the wife returned home later that day her jewelry, valued at $17,000, was missing. She told police Zimmerman was the last person in the house when she left for work.

Much of the heirloom jewelry later turned up at local pawn shops and jewelry stores, police said, including K-Dee’s Jewelry, Franks Pawn Shop, Barnhardt Jewelers in Spencer, and Quick Cash Pawn. The woman had detailed descriptions of her missing jewelry.

On Oct. 27, police were called to Jersey Mike’s Subs, 850 West Jake Alexander Blvd. where the manager reported her tip money was taken from behind the counter. She’d spoken with Zimmerman, who was a former employee, about returning to the restaurant. He’d been at the restaurant for two hours.

Police looked at store surveillance video and saw Zimmerman go behind the counter when other employees were not looking and remove the woman’s cash from her wallet. She said $65 was removed.

He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $28,000 secured bond.