Nashville BBQ Joint Employee Claimed He Was Robbed, But He Actually Just Stole The Money Himself: Police

ANTIOCH, TN — Metro Police arrested a 35-year-old Whitt's Barbecue employee after he was found with the $1,700 he said had been stolen.

Jason Hipps, 35, called police around 9:30 Friday morning and said that as he was opening the Whitt's at 1800 Antioch Pike, two men wielding baseball bats came through the back door and stole money. He told investigators the men were wearing gloves and ran to some nearby woods. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

A police canine team and a helicopter, along with South Precinct officers and detectives responded and began a search. After further investigation, police developed some doubts about Hipps' story and confronted him. He then admitted that there was no robbery, and that he himself took nearly $1,700 from the restaurant, according to police. The cash was in his car.

Hipps is charged with felony theft and filing a false report.

Image via Metro Nashville Police