Former Pizza Hut employee, DeKalb man accused of stealing money from DeKalb chain

DeKALB – A former Pizza Hut employee and a man she knows are both accused of burglarizing the pizza parlor she used to work at in DeKalb.

Stephanie E. Anderson, 19, of the 300 block of North 17th Street in Hamilton, Iowa, was arrested Sunday by DeKalb police and charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony. Michael A. Rae, 19, of the 100 block of Delcy Drive in DeKalb also was arrested Sunday by DeKalb police, and charged with burglary, also a Class 2 felony, and conspiracy to burglary, a Class 3 felony, according to DeKalb police records.

Rae was not booked into the DeKalb County Jail, however, said Sgt. Lindsay Smith with the DeKalb County’s Sheriff’s Office. Smoth said he posted bail at the DeKalb police department. According to court records, he posted $550 Monday.

If convicted, Anderson and Rae could face up to seven years in prison following an incident which involved multiple burglaries in November, records show.

According to DeKalb County court documents, DeKalb police officers responded to a call Nov. 8 from Pizza Hut at 701 W. Lincoln Highway Unit 1 in DeKalb for a report of multiple burglaries to the business. A manager told police that employees found money missing from the business’s safe the mornings of Nov. 1 and Nov. 8.

The employees reviewed surveillance video and identified those accused of committing the burglaries as Anderson and Rae, according to records.

Police said Anderson admitted to entering the closed pizza parlor on both dates and taking money from the safe, according to court documents. Rae also said he drove Anderson to and from Pizza Hut while knowing she was committing the burglaries, according to records.

Anderson appeared for a virtual bond hearing Monday in front of 23rd Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick and was represented by Public Defender Tom McCulloch at her request.

She told the judge she wouldn’t be able to post $500 bail to be released from jail.

Buick said Anderson didn’t have any prior criminal history and set her bond at $5,000 recognizance, meaning Anderson would be able to get out of jail using her signature.

“As condition of release, you are not to go to the property of Pizza Hut [W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb],” Buick told Anderson.

Rae’s bond also was set at $5,000, although he paid the 10% to post Monday, records show.

Anderson is due back in court 9:45 a.m. March 8. Rae is due back in court 1:30 p.m. March 2.