Suspect Arrested In Multiple Burglaries

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer-

A series of burglaries in the northwest part of Kosciusko County reportedly has been solved by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.

Three of the juvenile suspects were released to their parents, and one teen was arrested. John Bean, 16, of Nappanee will appear in court today for an initial hearing.

Since mid-November, a number of burglaries were reported in the northwest part of the county. According to police, a group of suspects would go to random residences and knock on the door. If someone answered the door, the suspects would make an excuse, such as asking for directions or asking for gasoline, for stopping at the residence.

If no one answered the door, the group would break into the home and steal random items including jewelry, guns and motocross equipment.

Police had a description of a suspect car, but until Friday had not found the alleged burglars.

Friday night a group of four juveniles went to a house near Etna Green and knocked on the door. When the resident answered the door, the juveniles asked the resident for gas. When the man said he did not have any gas, the juveniles left the residence in a car matching the suspect vehicle.

The resident of the home was suspicious of the group and called police about the incident.

Officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department eventually found the car and made a traffic stop. Once the vehicle was stopped, police found marijuana in the car. Officers also found ammunition for a pistol and a silver dollar, items taken in a burglary earlier Friday evening, in the car.

Four juvenile suspects were taken to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and questioned. One of the suspects told police that a gun was thrown out the window before the traffic stop.

After recovering the pistol, police discovered it was stolen from a residence Friday.

The suspects reportedly confessed to at least four other burglaries and may have a hand in more thefts in the northwestern part of the county.

The burglaries remain under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. [[In-content Ad]]

A series of burglaries in the northwest part of Kosciusko County reportedly has been solved by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.

Three of the juvenile suspects were released to their parents, and one teen was arrested. John Bean, 16, of Nappanee will appear in court today for an initial hearing.

Since mid-November, a number of burglaries were reported in the northwest part of the county. According to police, a group of suspects would go to random residences and knock on the door. If someone answered the door, the suspects would make an excuse, such as asking for directions or asking for gasoline, for stopping at the residence.

If no one answered the door, the group would break into the home and steal random items including jewelry, guns and motocross equipment.

Police had a description of a suspect car, but until Friday had not found the alleged burglars.

Friday night a group of four juveniles went to a house near Etna Green and knocked on the door. When the resident answered the door, the juveniles asked the resident for gas. When the man said he did not have any gas, the juveniles left the residence in a car matching the suspect vehicle.

The resident of the home was suspicious of the group and called police about the incident.

Officers from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department eventually found the car and made a traffic stop. Once the vehicle was stopped, police found marijuana in the car. Officers also found ammunition for a pistol and a silver dollar, items taken in a burglary earlier Friday evening, in the car.

Four juvenile suspects were taken to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department and questioned. One of the suspects told police that a gun was thrown out the window before the traffic stop.

After recovering the pistol, police discovered it was stolen from a residence Friday.

The suspects reportedly confessed to at least four other burglaries and may have a hand in more thefts in the northwestern part of the county.

The burglaries remain under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. [[In-content Ad]]

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