Kaleb Michael Shaffer, 34, has been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies at Aldi stores across Michigan, including two incidents in Portage.
The Portage Department of Public Safety (PDPS) announced Tuesday that Shaffer was taken into custody on June 4 in Rapid City, South Dakota. His arrest followed the authorization of two felony counts of armed robbery by the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office on June 2.
Authorities say the first robbery occurred on December 10, 2024, at the Aldi on South Westnedge Avenue near Mall Drive. A masked man, later identified as Shaffer, entered the store, requested to speak with the manager, and implied he was armed. He then demanded cash in a back room before fleeing the scene.
On January 18, 2025, the same individual reportedly returned to that location and committed a second robbery using the same approach. Surveillance footage showed the suspect wearing a grey fedora, grey jacket, and a face mask.
Following the January incident, PDPS identified a possible suspect living in the Lansing area. Working with other law enforcement agencies and Aldi Corporate, detectives determined that similar robberies using the same method had occurred at multiple Aldi stores statewide.
After gathering evidence across jurisdictions, Shaffer was linked to multiple robberies and extradited to Michigan. He was arraigned on June 20 in Kalamazoo County District Court and is currently being held without bond.
The Meridian Township Police Department also filed a charge of armed robbery against Shaffer for a January 5 robbery at their Aldi location. Additional charges in other jurisdictions are pending review.
PDPS praised the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, saying the case demonstrates “the importance of interagency collaboration and diligent investigative work.”
