St. Joseph County, Indiana – An Indiana police officer, Andrew Kocsis, has been charged with felony theft and obstruction of justice, along with several misdemeanors related to fraud. Kocsis, 39, had served as an ISP trooper for 17 years and was recently assigned to the General HQ in Indianapolis.
The alleged theft involves a JBL-Brand Rally Bar, specifically a soundbar designed for utility vehicles, valued at approximately $810.
According to a potential affidavit, Kocsis ordered the soundbar from a company in Minnesota back in September 2024. Upon its arrival, he claimed the package contained landscaping bricks instead. Court documents suggest that someone might have swapped the soundbar with bricks, and Kocsis even emailed a photo of the box.
The employee who received Kocsis’s email expressed intentions to contact UPS and notify the police about the situation. The employee pointed out that if the bricks had caused any damage, the delivery box would likely have been compromised as well.
Documentation confirmed that the package was delivered on September 5, 2024.
Kocsis reportedly identified himself as a police officer when he called the business, and he sent an email that included his driver’s license and ISP ID to verify his identity. The company agreed to issue a refund for Kocsis’s purchase, totaling $809.95.
Employees Who Questioned the Narrative
Some employees became suspicious of Kocsis’s story, contemplating whether he had either scammed them or stolen someone else’s identity. Consequently, one employee reached out to the Indiana State Police on October 18, 2024.
During interviews, employees who had packed similar rally bars noted discrepancies in the photos Kocsis sent, suggesting they did not match how packaging would react to being filled with bricks.
On October 22, 2024, investigators discussed the incident with Kocsis. He insisted he had received a package containing bricks, asserting that he believed the situation was resolved with the refund—though he admitted he had disposed of both the box and the bricks.
Kocsis also mentioned that neighbors had seen a “suspicious couple.” However, an investigator consulted with UPS’s security supervisor, who raised doubts about the plausibility of Kocsis’s claims. She noted that the bricks were too loosely arranged in the box, which would have likely caused noticeable damage if it had been shipped that way.
The supervisor believed it was “nearly impossible” for anyone to switch the contents without being noticed, suggesting that the bricks were swapped after delivery.
Assistance from Acquaintances
On November 8, 2024, in the presence of his lawyer, Kocsis spoke again with investigators. He reiterated that he hadn’t received the rally bar, claiming he had purchased another one from a different company in October and had made another purchase during a “private sale” in June—though he noted the June item had no serial number.
While investigating Kocsis’s phone, authorities found a text exchange between him and a friend discussing the installation of the rally bar shortly after he had contacted the company regarding his delivery issue.
A colleague mentioned to police on September 6, 2024, that Kocsis had assisted in setting up a rally bar using a package that did include a delivery label. Court documents indicated that the hardware used for installation remained unopened, which led these friends to believe that the equipment was indeed new.
A friend stated that Kocsis never mentioned receiving a package full of bricks. In fact, Kocsis had texted this friend on the day of the package’s arrival, claiming he had received the rally bar and even helped with its setup.
On November 18, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Kocsis’s residence, seizing two rally bars. One of these, supposedly purchased in a private sale, was found to be “dismantled and completely inoperable,” with internal stickers removed, making it impossible to trace its origin.
A Pattern of Dishonesty
Further investigations revealed that Kocsis had attempted a similar scheme involving a $670 order for a horn kit and other accessories for a Kawasaki Mule. He claimed he hadn’t received these items, but UPS confirmed delivery with photographic evidence.
Kocsis filed a theft report with the St. Joseph’s County Sheriff’s Office on September 20, 2024, alleging that these items had failed to arrive at his home.
In another text to a friend on September 8, 2024, he sought assistance for the installation of the Kawasaki horn, which a friend helped him set up on September 9, 2024.
Kocsis is scheduled for a court appearance on July 8. The ISP has placed him on unpaid administrative leave while the investigation continues.
