Special to the Times Vedette
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reported multiple car burglary and theft reports, involving stolen wallets, cash and debit/credit cards at Diamondhead Lake occurring on Feb. 4.
The Sheriff’s Office received home security footage of the suspects and the vehicle and also lifted fingerprints off one of the victims’ vehicles, presumed to be that of one of the suspects.
A press release from the Sheriff’s Office stated they discovered that one of the stolen credit cards was used at the Wal-Mart and Lowes stores in West Des Moines. Security footage from both stores were provided to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office showing the suspects committing the transactions. The suspects were identified as being the same individuals from the victim’s residences and could be seen entering and leaving the stores in the same vehicle.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist, and their license plate readers confirmed that the registered owner of the vehicle was located in Kansas. It was discovered that the vehicle’s registered owner admitted his son and his son’s girlfriend had taken his vehicle approximately 30 days prior and he has not seen them since.
When running a driver’s license check through Kansas, the suspects can be 100% identified and confirmed as being the suspects in the Lowes/Wal-Mart security footage. The suspects are believed to be out of the area and continuing their crime spree in the same manner.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to lock vehicle doors and to not leave items of value in vehicles overnight.
Criminal charges are pending.