Oconee Investigators Charge Athens Man with Robbery for Tip Jar Theft at Starbucks

Oconee County Sheriff's investigators have made an arrest in the case of a tip jar that was snatched last week from Starbucks' drive-thru window.

A manager of the store on Epps Bridge Parkway reported two men in a red Jeep Liberty were seen around 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 11 when the incident occurred. Authorities estimate $20-50 was taken.

George Labron Houser, 20, of Club Drive in Athens, was charged on Wednesday with robbery.

Detective Chris Cannon says the incident is classified as a robbery because the money was taken in the "immediate presence" of an employee of the coffee shop by "sudden snatching," as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 16-8-40.

Witnesses have been instrumental in helping with the case, Cannon said, and investigators were able to trace the Jeep's tag.

"The pieces of the puzzle were there," he said.

Though Houser has been charged, Cannon said deputies are still looking for the man who they believe actually grabbed the money.

"[Houser's] culpability is there based on his actions," Cannon said. "I don't think he was the one that snatched the money, but he was an active participant."

Investigators plan to interview a second "person of interest," but Cannon did not release that individual's name on Thursday morning.

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