Car burglars targeted many unlocked vehicles in the Flowering Tree Drive area last week, among other burglaries and incidents handled by the Bartlett Police Department (BPD) from May 27 through June 1.
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.
May 27
Flowering Tree Drive (multiple auto burglary complaints)
On May 27, multiple complainants in Bartlett reported auto burglaries.
A resident on Flowering Tree Drive said someone entered her unlocked 2012 Honda Civic that was parked in her driveway between 8 p.m. May 26 and 7 a.m. May 27, but nothing appeared to be missing.
The second woman, a resident on North Flowering Tree Cove, said someone also entered her unlocked 1998 Honda CRV while it was parked in her driveway between 11 p.m. May 26 and 6:30 a.m. May 27. Nothing appeared to be missing.
A third woman, who resides on Flowering Tree Drive, said that someone entered her unlocked 2004 Toyota Camry while it was parked in her driveway, sometime between 9 p.m. May 26 and 7 a.m. May 27. Her red billfold was stolen from the center console, but she found it across the street.
A fourth victim, who resides on Robin Hop, reported that someone entered his unlocked 2006 Ford truck between 5 p.m. May 26 and 9:30 a.m. May 27 and stole approximately $15 in change from the center console.
A fifth victim, who also resides on Flowering Tree Drive, said someone entered her unlocked 1998 Honda minivan and her unlocked 2014 Toyota minivan while they were parked in her driveway.
She said the incident happened sometime between 10 p.m. May 26 and 6:30 a.m. May 27.
A sixth victim, also a resident on Flowering Tree Drive, said someone entered her unlocked 1998 Mitsubishi early on May 27. Nothing was missing, but papers were scattered about.
A seventh victim, also a a resident on Flowering Tree Drive, said someone entered his unlocked 1997 Volvo while it was parked in his driveway between 11 a.m. May 26 and 1 p.m. May 27. Nothing appeared to be missing.
An eighth victim, also a resident on Flowering Tree Drive, said someone entered his 2012 Honda Civic as it was parked in his driveway.
A ninth victim said someone entered his unlocked 2012 Mitsubishi while it was parked in front of his Flowering Tree Drive home and stole a red Nintendo DS ($100) from the front seat.
A 10th victim, also on Flowering Tree Drive, said someone entered her unlocked Hyundai and her Ford, both of which were parked in her driveway, between 11 p.m. May 26 and 6:45 a.m. May 27. Neither vehicle had anything missing, but their papers were scattered about.
May 28
7th Road (burglary)
A woman reported on May 27 that someone stole her Phillips flat-screen TV($1,000) from her residence, a guest house behind a primary residence on 7th Road. She estimated the TV’s size at 56 or 58 inches.
The TV was taken sometime between 6:30 p.m. May 27 and 1 p.m. May 28. She said all of her windows and doors were locked, just as she had left them the previous day.
Officers did not observe any signs of forced entry. Additionally, no visible fingerprints were found around the stand or around any points of entry.
Germantown Road (burglary)
Around 6 a.m. on May 8, the Bartlett Parks Department maintenance manager reported a burglary at the city’s treatment plant at 3179 N. Germantown Road. Stolen vehicles and yardwork equipment totaled $93,196.
The manager said one of his employees called to report a possible burglary at the facility. He got concerned when he noticed one of the maintenance trucks had its headlights on for no apparent reason, and two other trucks (Ford F-250s) were missing. He saw the chain lock, apparently forcibly cut, lying on the ground.
The responding officer observed the truck with headlines on and its front driver’s side door open. It appeared that someone entered that truck but was not able to drive it off the property.
Park maintenance employees who regularly drive the two missing work trucks said they returned the trucks around 4 p.m. on May 27. Both trucks had trailers that contained lawn equipment, including riding mowers and weed trimmers.
A storage shed that contained numerous weed trimmers, blowers and edgers was also broken into at the scene.
The complainant provided an inventory of all missing items: Two white Ford F-250s ($49,596), two trailers ($3,700), two Grasshopper riding mowers ($22,600), two Hustler riding mowers ($8,000), 16 Stihl weed trimmers ($4,800) five Stihl edgers ($1,500), four backpack blowers ($1,600), one Stihl hedge trimmer ($400), one Honda posthole digger ($500), and 1 Stihl pole runner ($500).
May 29
Old Brownsville Road (unauthorized use of vehicle)
A victim on Old Brownsville Road reported May 29 that she loaned a friend her car around 7 p.m. May 29 and it has not been returned.
She said she has tried to call her friend multiple times, and the call goes straight to his voice mail. The responding officer also tried to contact the suspect and was unsuccessful. The vehicle is a gray 2010 Chevrolet Impala.
Old Brownsville Road (theft)
A male victim reported on May 29 that someone had stolen his purple/blue Schwinn 10-speed bicycle ($110) from his driveway on Ole Brownsville Road. He said the theft occurred between May 23 and May 25.
Yorkhill Drive (possible attempted burglary)
A resident on Yorkhill Drive reported on May 29 that one or more suspects tried to break into her house through a garage side door during the night.
The responding officer saw that the door had a couple of the outer finishing screws missing and paint scraped around the door’s catch (estimated $5 damage). There were not apparent signs of an attempted burglary in the officer’s opinion.
The complainant said she has an ongoing investigation with the Memphis Police Department because her baby’s father is in a gang. The responding officer generated the report at her request.
May 30
Elmore Park road (theft of property)
A complainant reported on May 30 that someone had stolen a green John Deere riding mower ($2,000) from his back yard on Elmore Park Road. He said the theft occurred between noon May 2 and noon May 9.
The mower was behind an unlocked chain-link gate that was visible from the street on the home’s south side.
May 31
Forest Oasis Lane (burglary)
A complainant reported that someone entered a new construction home on Forest Oasis Lane and stole a Whirlpool electric range ($800). The theft occurred between 7 p.m. May 29 and 3 p.m. May 31. The home is being finished, and the doors remain unlocked to allow workers access.
At the time of the report, the complainant could not provide a serial or model number for the stolen property.
June 1
Magnolia Woods Drive (theft from motor vehicle)
A complainant reported on June 1 that someone had stolen her pistol from her vehicle’s glovebox.
The vehicle was parked in front of her house, and the glovebox appeared to be damaged. She said the theft occurred between 2 p.m. May 30 and 2 p.m. May 31.
June 2
Newstone Drive (auto burglary)
A resident on Newstone Drive reported on June 2 that someone had broken into his vehicle. The victim said he first noticed papers on the passenger’s seat, but none had been there the previous evening.
The suspect had popped the lock on the passenger side door to gain entry ($300 in damage) and steal phone cords and his wallet, which contained $5, his driver’s license, Social Security card and Region’s bank card. Total value of items missing was $15.
The suspect left a pack of Newports and a red Solo cup behind on the passenger-side floorboard.
