Pair of guns stolen in car burglaries
Staff writer
Two guns — a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver — remain missing after a rash of auto burglaries in Marion.
Following a high-tech evidence chain that led from surveillance video to database queries, police have identified two suspects in eight burglaries before 5 a.m. New Year’s Day. The man and woman have not been charged yet.
The pistol, valued at $700, was stolen from a vehicle owned by Anthony resident Noah Albin, It was parked at 819 Birch St. Also stolen from the vehicle was a $300 rangefinder and home and car keys valued at $320.
The revolver, valued at $550, and a $420 diesel programmer were stolen from a vehicle owned by Jandee Kruse that also was parked at 819 Birch St. A vehicle owned by Alan Kruse also was broken into at that address.
“There’s no law that says you can’t leave (guns) in a vehicle,” interim police chief Duane McCarty said. “It’s stupid. It’s irresponsible.”
Marion police officer Zach Hudlin recovered the diesel programmer and the rangefinder Jan. 20 from a pawn shop in Blue Springs, Missouri. A database search by the Marion County sheriff’s office indicated that one of the suspects had sold items matching their descriptions there Jan. 2.
Suspects from Gardner and Council Grove were identified through surveillance video and comments made during one of the purchases.
Hudlin said four vehicles at 819 Ash St. were broken into early that morning. Two credit cards, a driver’s license, $100 in cash, and a Coach wallet were stolen from a vehicle owned by Jillian Edmundson.
Ryan Edmundson and Sherri Edmundson also are listed as victims on reports. A makeup bag was stolen from Sherri Edmundson’s vehicle.
Three vehicles owned by Jillian and Ryan Edmundson were burglarized.
Suspects used the credit cards at Casey’s in Marion, Walmart in Emporia, McDonald’s in Emporia, and Flying J in Emporia, Hudlin said. A total of $2,026.55 was charged to the cards, including $1,001.73 at Walmart, he said. The spending spree began at 5:15 a.m. Jan. 1.
A keychain with house and car keys valued at $50 was stolen from a vehicle owned by Audrey Pavlu that was parked at 816 E. Maple St.
Hudlin said he had no idea why that area of town was targeted except for “it’s a nicer part of town.”
However, he said, “there’s only one way in and out,” so breaking into vehicles there was bold.