Brian Smith
Richmond police are warning residents to keep their cars locked after a number of thefts from unlocked vehicles recently.
Sgt. Willard Reardon, Richmond Police Department spokesman, advised residents to keep their cars locked at all times while unattended and to conceal valuables to prevent them from being taken.
“Thieves take advantage of these crimes of opportunity,” Reardon said.
Police are investigating eight break-ins last week where items were taken from cars, five of which were reported Thursday in the area of Bennington Court, Arlington Drive and Lexington Road.
Each of the cars was unlocked, Reardon said, and the owners reported several items had been taken, including a black 4 gigabyte Apple iPod nano, a Garmin Nuvi GPS unit, a silver Canon Digital Rebel camera, a Creative Zen Jukebox MP3 player with charger and a wallet with $35 cash, credit cards and identification.
The total value of the missing items in these thefts was $730.
A Manna Drive resident also reported Thursday that his car had been broken into, and a Pioneer AM/FM stereo CD player valued at $100 was stolen from the car. Police found no signs of forced entry.
The resident of a 1000 block Killarney Drive apartment reported Thursday that a Pioneer CD player, a black Apple iPod, a Nextel cell phone and a Motorola cell phone charger were stolen from his unlocked car. Those items were valued at $720.
A brown and black purse with $200 in cash, a Pentax cell phone and personal identification was stolen Saturday from an unlocked car in the 300 block of Jason Drive, police said. The items were valued at $415.
Forgery arrest
A Berea man was arrested Friday on two counts of theft by deception and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument in connection with fraudulent purchases from a downtown art gallery.
Anthony W. Johnson, 28, was arrested for allegedly using two stolen checks in April to buy items from the Chestnut Gallery, 102 E. Main Street.
Johnson allegedly forged a check for $175 to buy a knife April 4, then is accused of coming back the next day to buy another knife and two pieces of jewelry for $551.20 with a forged check.
A warrant was issued for his arrest April 28 after an investigation by Officer Kelly Rouse.
Johnson was arrested on Haiti Road in Berea and lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.
Other crimes
• A Keenfield Drive resident reported Thursday that his home had been broken into overnight, and later in the day discovered more than $1,000 in items had been taken.
The man found the back door of the residence standing open at 3 a.m., and later noticed items had been taken.
Missing were a Dell laptop computer, a Motorola Razr cell phone, a gold ring and $30 in cash. The items were valued a $1,085.
• The resident of an apartment in the 400 block of Mount Rushmore Drive reported several items stolen Thursday following an argument with her ex-husband.
The woman told police that after he left, she found several items missing. A 1-carat diamond engagement ring, a gold wedding band with diamond clusters, a man’s gold wedding band, a bottle of prescription medication and a Motorola Razr cell phone, all valued at $510, were missing, the woman told police.
• James B. Hendricks, 23, of Bogie Mill Road, was charged with first- and third-degree possession of controlled substances following a traffic stop Thursday on N. Third Street.
Hendricks allegedly threw a cigarette pack into the bed of his pickup truck while being questioned by officers, and a search of the pack uncovered an oxycodone pill and eight Xanax pills.
He was lodged in the Madison County Detention Center.
• Nine pit bull/bull mastiff mix puppies were stolen Friday from the garage of a home in the 500 block of Hill Street.
The rear door of the home had been forced open, police said. The puppies were valued at $675.
• Police found Saturday night that a rock had been thrown through the front glass of the New York Life office on Barnes Mill Road, but there were no signs the building had been entered. The vandalism caused $300 in damage.
• A package containing $33 in Avon makeup products was stolen from outside an apartment in the 1000 block of Blackwell Drive.
The victim reported Thursday that the package had been taken while she was away from her home Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Eric Jewell, 35, of the Quality Quarters Inn, was charged with misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking Wednesday after Walmart employees detained him for allegedly taking $38 in merchandise.
• Rita Delaney, 19, of S. Keeneland Drive, was charged Saturday with misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking after Walmart employees detained her for allegedly taking $38 in merchandise.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Richmond Police Department at 623-1162 or 623-8911.
Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.
