Employee accused of theft from East St. Louis housing authority

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A man working for East St. Louis’ housing authority is accused of stealing appliances from the agency.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that prosecutors in St. Clair County have charged 50-year-old Robert Blanchard of Washington Park with felony theft.

Blanchard is accused of stealing stoves and refrigerators while working for the housing authority for about the past year.

Blanchard’s status with the agency isn’t immediately clear.

He wasn’t available for comment Thursday. Blanchard doesn’t have a listed home telephone number, and online court records don’t show whether he has an attorney.