MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- On Jan. 17, at approximately 12:04 a.m., the La Porte County regional dispatch was alerted that a burglar alarm was set off at Columbia Outlet while the business was closed. 

When officers arrived at the scene, they noticed the front window was shattered. 

When officers entered the building, they located 59-year-old Rodney Cooper, Michigan City resident, attempting to conceal himself under a clothing rack next to multiple bags of clothing. 

Officers did not locate anyone else inside of the building during that time. 

The Michigan City Police Department’s Evidence Response Unit assisted with processing the scene for evidence.

Cooper was taken into custody and charged for Burglary, a level five felony.

Cooper is now booked into the Laporte County Jail with a $15,000 bond. 

The public can contact the Laporte County Sheriff's Office crime tip hotline at 219-873-1488 or call the We Tip Hotline for General Crime at 800-79CRIME.