Police arrest man who stole more than $500 from gas stations

On 9-20-2020 in the evening hours a man drove into a Chippewa County gas station and was acting very suspicious. The man entered the gas station a few times and was standing at the cash register as the clerks were processing some of the cash behind the counter. The man waited for just the right moment and then reached across and grabbed the cash from behind the counter. The man then ran out of the store.

The Sheriff’s Office was able to get a good description of the suspect and his vehicle from the surveillance video. The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office and Trident Detectives were on the lookout for the suspect and his vehicle for the past couple of days. On 9-23-2020 in the afternoon a Detective saw the suspect driving his vehicle in Sault Ste Marie. Detectives followed the suspect to a housing complex where they made contact and the man was arrested.

It was also found that the man had just stolen a carton of cigarettes from another gas station just minutes earlier. The man was found on surveillance video at the second location showing him stealing the cigarettes.

A search warrant was executed at the Paul residence and clothing matching what Paul was wearing at the time of the first larceny was recovered.

Andrew Michael Paul was arrested and charged with Larceny from a Building (Felony) and Retail Fraud.

On 9-24-2020 Paul was arraigned in the 91st District Court and given a cash bond with tether. Paul is innocent until proven guilty.Trident Detectives assisted in this investigation.