16th District Officers, Area Detectives Clear Theft Pattern

On 18 April 08, at 0226 hours, Lieutenant Jeffery Gale, Officer’s Irizarry, Doyle, Govea, Burns, Meier, Honda, Mulder and Gibbelina responded to an assignment of Theft from Auto in Progress at 35xx N. Normandy.

Upon arrival at this location, the Officers observed an offender, standing outside the victim’s vehicle by the driver’s side door. The Officers further observed the driver’s side window was broken out and glass was strewn about. Upon approaching the auto, a second offender was observed inside the vehicle, ducking down in the driver’s seat. Both Offenders were immediately taken into custody and advised of their rights.

An interview of the victim related she heard a car alarm going off: When she looked out her window, she saw the one offender standing outside her vehicle by the driver’s side door. She then notified the police. Further investigation by the officer’s revealed a white Mercury Sable parked nearby with the engine running. The vehicle registered to one of the offender’s. Inside the vehicle were the proceeds from other burglaries of autos, including another GPS system, Sony am/fm car stereo and a 9” Panasonic television with brackets as if it was mounted in a vehicle. The victims of these crimes were subsequently located and both offenders were charged with several counts of Burglary.

After advising the offenders of their rights, they admitted that they were responsible for numerous break-ins and thefts from autos. This arrest cleared an emerging crime trend regarding thefts of GPS navigation systems. As a result of this outstanding investigation and arrest , Detectives Pilolli and Mullane cleared over 100 theft from auto cases.

Submitted by:

Anthony J. Riccio, Commander 016th District