Man Allegedly Uses Phony Receipts to Return Vodka, Aspirin at West Des Moines Store

A Bondurant man who Target store officials allege has a history of returning merchandise with phony receipts was charged with third-degree theft (enhanced) after he used past-dated receipts to return $43 worth of merchandise.

According to a report on file at the West Des Moines Police Department, store employees at the store at 1800 Valley West Drive watched Nathan William Smith, 30, of Bondurant select vodka, aspirin and a CD on Jan. 14. The said he walked past the check-out counters and approached the customer service desk. The report said he presented three receipts, dated Jan. 12, Dec. 31 and Nov. 16 from the Altoona and Des Moines Target stores.

Store officials have suspected Smith of multiple incidents of fraudulent returns, according to the report, but had been unable to stop him until the Jan. 14 incident.

When loss prevention employees tried to stop him, he fled, dropping his wallet and some other other items as he “shoved past the employees and continued into the parking lot,” where they reportedly apprehended him.