Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The Presque Isle Police Department continues to investigate several car burglaries that occurred in the Star City over the last week. On Sept. 25 and 26, and again on Sept. 30, police received several calls of cars being burglarized primarily in the Maple Street area of town.
The first call was received at approximately 6:47 a.m. from a woman who resides on Maple Street reporting her vehicle had been burglarized overnight. Of the four cars in the yard, she stated she’d discovered one’s passenger door ajar. Upon looking closer, she found cash and other personal property missing. The value of the missing items was estimated at $70. Officer Shawn Newell, of the PIPD, responded.
A second call came in around the same time from another female resident of Maple Street. She advised police her unlocked van had been burglarized while it was parked in her driveway. Missing from the vehicle were her checkbook and various forms of identification, personal belongings, as well as about $90 in cash. Newell responded to the scene. Newell handled this call as well.
A male from Sherwin Street called at about 7:56 a.m. on the same day reporting his car had been gone through overnight in his driveway and items were missing. The perpetrator reportedly broke a window to gain access, then took cash and personal items valued at about $50. Newell responded to the report.
A call at around 8:17 a.m. from a female resident of Maple Street involved yet another car burglary. A small amount of cash was reportedly taken from the woman’s vehicle. Newell was assigned to investigate.
Another call came in around 8:31 a.m. from across town reporting a motor vehicle burglary. A male on Dudley Street reported personal items had been taken from his unlocked vehicle sometime in the night. The items were valued at about $200. Newell was assigned to the call.
A Davis Street male called the department at around 3:52 p.m. advising police he’d caught someone trying to go through his parked truck. The caller said the individual took off running when he yelled at him. The caller gave police a description of the suspect. Sgt. Mark Barnes and Officers Larry Fickett and Jeff Mechalko, all of the PIPD, combed the area but were unable to make contact with the suspect.
Calls continued on Sept. 26, with a male contacting the department around 5:38 p.m. to report personal property had been taken from his unlocked car. At first he’d thought it wasn’t important enough to call in but after hearing of other burglaries in the area, he changed his mind. No value was specified for the taken item. Officer Shawn Newell, of the PIPD, responded.
On Sept. 30, police were called by a male on the Reach Road reporting a possible attempt to burglarize his truck. The caller stated he heard his alarm go off and when he went out to investigate, he saw a male heading east and running. The vehicle was locked, preventing entry. Nothing was taken. Sgt. Joey Seeley, of the PIPD, responded.
Police have a suspect in mind but are not releasing the person’s name at this point.
The cases remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the PIPD at 764-4476.
