A Louisville man was arrested for kidnapping and forcing a woman to drive him to an ATM on Sunday, August 16.
Alexander Luckenbill, 32, is charged with first-degree robbery and kidnapping of an adult. However, he was already free on bond for back-to-back retail theft and burglary charges from July.
According to police, Luckenbill approached a victim in her vehicle in the 7200 block of Rainbow Drive around noon, reached inside with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money. When the victim said she had no cash, Luckenbill climbed into the backseat and ordered her to drive to the Circle K gas station on Dixie Highway to use the ATM.
The victim then drove to the Circle K and called 911 from inside the store. A second witness who was also in the vehicle told officers Luckenbill kept what appeared to be a gun at his side.
When the victim returned to the car and said she had called the police, Luckenbill fled on foot. Officers found him barefoot nearby. A subsequent search of his bag revealed the suspected weapon was actually a blowtorch-type lighter wrapped in tape to resemble a handgun.
In addition to the new charges, court and police records revealed Luckenbill has previous run-ins with Louisville Metro Police officers this summer. He is scheduled for arraignment August 31 for two separate felony theft charges stemming from a same-day shoplifting spree July 22.
Police citations revealed a rapid succession of thefts on Dixie Highway that afternoon:
Meijer Heist (3:50 p.m.): Loss prevention staff at the Meijer store at 9905 Dixie Highway observed Luckenbill concealing unpaid store merchandise inside a backpack. He fled in an awaiting getaway vehicle with $928.20 worth of stolen goods. Because Luckenbill had been formally trespassed from the store following a shoplifting incident June 11, 2026, he was charged with felony third-degree burglary and theft of retail merchandise for resale.
Home Depot Theft (4:16 p.m.): Just 26 minutes later, police said Luckenbill struck the Home Depot at 6840 Dixie Highway. Loss prevention caught him on camera stealing a red drawstring backpack filled with mechanical saw blades valued at $661.46.
Louisville Metro Police officers intercepted Luckenbill in his vehicle shortly after the second theft during a traffic stop near Terry Road and Greenwood Road. Officers found the stolen Meijer merchandise in plain view in the backseat alongside the stolen saw blades from Home Depot.
According to police, Luckenbill admitted to officers he committed both crimes to resell the merchandise.
Luckenbill is currently being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Source: WAVE
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