Burglar in LG Misses the Big Money in Plain Sight
La Grange Police are investigating a string of recent vehicle crimes, including a couple of head-scratchers.
Someone broke in three vehicles parked at the Hampton Inn in La Grange during the early morning hours of Monday, Oct. 26. Whomever was responsible broke the windows out of a 2008 Chevy Silverado, a 2017 Dodge Ram 3500 crew cab and a 2019 Chevy Silverado, apparently looking for valuables.
Nothing was taken, according to La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath. But sitting in the center console of the 2008 Chevy, in plain sight, was a money bag containing $3,500 in cash.
“The owners were antique dealers in town for the Antiques Show,” Gilbreath said.
Gilbreath speculated that the thieves either “got spooked” and ran away before taking anything, or they simply did not see the bag when combing through the vehicle.
Then during the night or early morning of Nov. 2-3, someone tried stealing a 2001 Ford F-250 pickup from Kalmus Texaco, located at 206 E. Travis St. The owner discovered the damage around 11 a.m. on Nov. 3. Someone broke out the driver side window and damaged the ignition cylinder trying start the vehicle without a key. They were not able to get the truck started and apparently abandoned the effort.
That same morning, around 3:23 a.m. on Nov. 3, someone successfully stole a 2004 Ford F-450 utility truck from Electric Motor Service only to drive it across town and abandon it on Brown Street. Surveillance footage at Electric Motor Service shows a single suspect wearing a dark hoodie breaking the window of the pickup. He got inside and broke the steering column, allowing him to start it without a key.
The thief apparently drove it to the 300 block of Brown Street and parked it. Nothing was taken from the truck, not even the valuable tools that were stored in the utility bed. Police later returned the truck to Electric Motor Service.
Gilbreath said the surveillance video was not clear enough to provide a good description of the suspect. When asked why someone would steal a vehicle only to park it across town, Gilbreath responded, “I haven’t a clue.”
If anyone noticed suspicious activity around the time of these incidents, please report it to La Grange Police at (979) 968-5806.