Former employee charged in Lou’s Diner burglary; female remains at large

Kevin Bain

CLOVERDALE — A recently-fired employee of Lou’s Diner has been charged with the Feb. 15 burglary of the Cloverdale eatery.

Apprehended by the Cloverdale Police Department on Friday, Kevin. M. Bain, 36, Quincy, was in Putnam Superior Court on Monday, facing charges of Level 5 felony burglary, Level 6 felony theft with a prior conviction and Class C misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.

However, a female whom surveillance footage shows with the male subject during the break-in remains at large. Authorities believe they may also know her identity.

Cloverdale Deputy Marshal David McIntosh began the investigation when he was called to Lou’s on the afternoon of Feb. 16, with business owner Lori Belcher saying there was a missing cash drawer of $200 and a number of antique silver spoons missing from the restaurant.

McIntosh obtained footage of the incident, while Deputy Marshal Sam Fogle also recovered the missing cash box in the ditch of a nearby field.

The footage showed that the break-in happened between 10:54 and 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Upon reviewing the surveillance footage with McIntosh, Belcher identified the man entering the building as Bain. She said she had recently fired Bain and that the man in the video had the same movements and posture, as well as wearing the same tennis shoes as when he worked at Lou’s.

Belcher also noted that during his time as an employee, he often spoke of his affinity for melting down silver.

On Friday, Deputy Marshal Daniel Warren, Deputy Marshal Fogle and three Indiana State Police troopers served a warrant at Bain’s residence, placing him under arrest and finding a bag of 10 decorative spoons that were later identified as among those missing from the restaurant.

They also found six smoking devices, one of which had residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, while the others had the odor of marijuana.

Bain was booked in the Putnam County Jail at 10:38 p.m. on Friday.

On Monday, Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter formally filed charges against Bain.

Appearing in Putnam Superior Court on Monday, Bain entered a not-guilty plea. His bond was set at $20,000.