Crimes of opportunity were the theme for most recent incidents in Bartlett, from a wide-open garage to unlocked vehicles and unsecured bicycles —all tempting targets for thieves. These are among the incidents the Bartlett Police Depart-ment (BPD) handled March 9 through March 17.
Editor’s note: All suspects are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and values are estimated for stolen/damaged items. These are brief summaries of detailed BPD reports.
March 9
Stage Road (auto burglary)
A customer at Planet Fitness (5740 Stage Road) reported items stolen from his truck on March 9 while it was in the business’s parking lot between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Items stolen included his backpack, wallet with seven credit cards, Glock 9mm firearm and magazine, $215 cash and a set of keys.
Cascade Hill Cove (auto burglary)
A resident on Cascade Hill Cove reported March 9 that someone had stolen the following items from the resident’s three unlocked vehicles: A small black coin purse with about $5 of coins, a black-and-brown Vera Bradley backpack with pink flowers ($130), and a TI-88 calculator ($100).
Willow Break Drive (burglary/theft)
Someone stole multiple tools from an open garage on Willow Break Drive between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. March 9.
The victim said items stolen were an Echo orange gas blower, Echo orange gas powerhead and edger attachment, and a red gas container.
Stage Road (auto burglary)
Someone damaged a man’s vehicle and stolen multiple items from it on March 9 while it was parked at ATC Fitness (6600 Stage Road).
The victim said he entered the fitness center around 1:30 p.m. and returned around 2:55 p.m., when he found that the driver’s side door lock had been punched out.
Items stolen included his wallet ($20), a debit card ($2), three credit cards ($8) and an unspecified amount of cash.
Gailyn (stolen property)
A Gailyn resident reported that someone stole his red Toro push lawnmower from his open garage between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. March 9.
A witness saw a white male suspect, about 30 years old, loading a red lawnmower into the back of a gray or beige hatchback parked across the road from the garage.
March 11
Plum Hill Drive (theft from yard)
A resident on Plum Hill Drive reported that someone stole her daughter’s blue 18-speed mountain bike ($15) from her yard.
The bike had been propped against the south side of the home and was last seen around 5 p.m. March 9. The victim realized it was missing around 6:30 p.m. March 11.
March 14
Elmore Road/Bartlett Boulevard (vandalism)
A driver reported that someone blew out the rear driver’s side window of his vehicle around 9:40 p.m. on March 14 as he traveled westbound on Elmore Road, west of Bartlett Boulevard.
He heard a loud bang and then saw smoke rising from behind a nearby residence.
Responding officers found what appeared to be dry ice bombs in that home’s backyard.
Another victim arrived while the officer was on scene and gave a similar report from a March 13 incident. He said he was driving by the same house around 8:20 p.m., heard a small noise and spotted a small hole in his window.
Officers believe a BB gun was used to damage both vehicles. Both drivers said they want to prosecute.
Blue Lagoon (possible attempted burglary)
The executor of a vacant property at Blue Lagoon believes he thwarted a burglary attempt when he stopped by the property the evening of March 14.
He saw a gray or green Nissan Cube occupied by two black male suspects parked in the driveway. He parked behind them and asked the two why there were there.
The driver suspect said he had dropped his phone and was trying to locate it.
Both men looked extremely nervous and quickly fled the scene when the victim said he was calling the police.
They sped off through his yard to get around the victim’s vehicle, and their tires cut a deep gouge in the ground. The victim estimated the cost to re-sod would be $100.
The victim said he tried to follow themsouthbound on Germantown Road, but they drove too fast.
The responding officer cleared the residence and determined that no one had entered it unlawfully. The officer also took photos of the damaged yard. The victim said he wants to prosecute if suspect info becomes available.
March 16
Cardinal Hill Cove (burglary)
A resident on Cardinal Hill Cove reported that someone stole about $485 in tools from his open garage on March 16.
A witness reported seeing a white male and a white female around 1:30 p.m., loading items into the back seat of an older model small gray four-door car as it was parked in the victim’s driveway.
She described the male suspect as about 20-30 years old, wearing a T-shirt, shorts and a ball cap. The female suspect was about the same age, wearing shorts and a spaghetti-strap tank top.
Tools stolen included a Sears 20-gallon air compressor ($400), air compressor hose ($25) and Remington electric chainsaw ($60).
March 17
Star Valley Drive (attempted burglary)
A Star Valley Drive resident said she caught a man in her home’s attached garage around 7 a.m. on March 17.
She was preparing to leave for work and opened the garage door, only to find a white man there, holding her husband’s Husqvarna 145BT backpack leaf blower ($300).
He said, “Excuse me, ma’am,” dropped the leaf blower and ran back to an older model car, possibly a Honda Civic two-door or similar style vehicle in a dark color (possibly green or black).
He sped away westbound on Star Valley Drive and then southbound on Milkyway Drive.
Wild Drive (aggravated burglary)
A resident on Wild Drive reported on March 17 that someone had stolen about $430 in items from his home’s attached garage.
He said they must have been stolen around 8:30 a.m. March 3 because that was the only time he recalled leaving the garage open while it was unoccupied.
Items stolen included a Bissel carpet cleaner ($300) and Stanley jump box ($130).
Shade Tree (theft from motor vehicle)
Someone stole documents from the glove compartments of a Shade Tree resident’s Jeep Cherokee while it was parked unlocked in his carport.
He said the theft occurred between 9 p.m. March 16 and 11 a.m. March 17. Documents included vehicle insurance cards and the vehicle registration.
A second victim at the same address also found that her vehicle’s registration, insurance cards and maintenance records were stolen from the glove compartment. Her vehicle was also left unlocked.
