Two Syracuse Men Arrested for Burglary, Third Man Sought
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kaitie Vanderpool-
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a North Webster police officer responded to a home robbery in the early morning hours Thursday. Upon arrival, the officer observed a dark-colored van sitting in front of the residence with three male subjects inside. The officer identified two of the subjects as Austin James Smith, 19, and Zachary Dale Smith, 23, both of 506 Turtle Bay Drive, Lot 88, Syracuse. The third subject fled the area on foot.
A male and female then exited the residence and, according to the report, the male had blood on his face. The North Webster officer spoke to the subjects who advised they were on their sofa inside the residence when two male subjects broke down the door and entered. They also advised one of the subjects was carrying a rifle.
The men then ordered the residents to the floor and one of the subjects then struck the male resident on the head with the rifle, causing injury to his nose. Further, the male subject claimed to have recognized one of the burglars.
The residents told police they were held down while the suspects carried out a 42-inch television, a 60-inch plasma television, the female resident’s purse and two iPhones.
The officer then spoke with Zachary who admitted that he, Austin and a third subject drove his mother’s van to the residence. Austin remained in the van while Zachary and the third suspect approached the residence, kicked in the door, entered the apartment and proceeded to hold the residents down while taking their property out to the waiting van.
Austin told police that while he was waiting in the van, he observed a woman in an upstairs apartment on the phone and he honked the horn of the van several times to alert Zachary and the third subject.
The police arrived shortly after.
Officers searched the van and located the listed items stolen from the victims.
Zachary was booked on charges of burglary, robbery and theft – all felony charges, and held on a $10,000 bond. Austin was charged with aiding, inducing or causing burglary, aiding, inducing or causing robbery and aiding, inducing or causing theft – all felony charges, and held on a $10,000 bond.
The third subject has not been apprehended as of this morning.[[In-content Ad]]
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a North Webster police officer responded to a home robbery in the early morning hours Thursday. Upon arrival, the officer observed a dark-colored van sitting in front of the residence with three male subjects inside. The officer identified two of the subjects as Austin James Smith, 19, and Zachary Dale Smith, 23, both of 506 Turtle Bay Drive, Lot 88, Syracuse. The third subject fled the area on foot.
A male and female then exited the residence and, according to the report, the male had blood on his face. The North Webster officer spoke to the subjects who advised they were on their sofa inside the residence when two male subjects broke down the door and entered. They also advised one of the subjects was carrying a rifle.
The men then ordered the residents to the floor and one of the subjects then struck the male resident on the head with the rifle, causing injury to his nose. Further, the male subject claimed to have recognized one of the burglars.
The residents told police they were held down while the suspects carried out a 42-inch television, a 60-inch plasma television, the female resident’s purse and two iPhones.
The officer then spoke with Zachary who admitted that he, Austin and a third subject drove his mother’s van to the residence. Austin remained in the van while Zachary and the third suspect approached the residence, kicked in the door, entered the apartment and proceeded to hold the residents down while taking their property out to the waiting van.
Austin told police that while he was waiting in the van, he observed a woman in an upstairs apartment on the phone and he honked the horn of the van several times to alert Zachary and the third subject.
The police arrived shortly after.
Officers searched the van and located the listed items stolen from the victims.
Zachary was booked on charges of burglary, robbery and theft – all felony charges, and held on a $10,000 bond. Austin was charged with aiding, inducing or causing burglary, aiding, inducing or causing robbery and aiding, inducing or causing theft – all felony charges, and held on a $10,000 bond.
The third subject has not been apprehended as of this morning.[[In-content Ad]]
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