South Bend – A quick shopping trip to a South Bend Walmart last Saturday night for an off-duty Indiana State Trooper took a little longer than expected.
Corporal Robert Leffert had just parked at the Walmart located on Ireland Road in South Bend and was walking into the store when he noticed a black wallet on the ground in the parking lot. He picked up the wallet and took it inside where he discovered that it contained $179.00 in cash, a credit card, and a driver’s license belonging to Leonardo Morales. Leffert approached the store security guard asking to have the owner paged.
Leffert finished his shopping at the store and once again located the security guard and store manager. Leffert was told that no one came forward from the page and they considered that the owner may have already left the store.
Leffert took the wallet to his car where he made contact with his dispatch and also checked a map for the location of the victim’s house. Leffert discovered that Morales’ South Bend address was close by and drove to his house in an attempt to return the wallet.
Leffert was able to locate Morales at his residence. After a short conversation with Morales, he realized he didn’t have his wallet, stated Leffert. Leffert explained where he found the wallet and Morales offered to thank Corporal Leffert with food, but he graciously declined the offer, stating, “Thanks, but I have groceries that I need to get home.”
Leffert is stationed at the Toll Road Post in Bristol and has been with the department since 2008.
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