RPD Needs Help Catching “Alley Thief”
From the RPD;
We are in need of the community’s help to locate and identify a suspect in some recent thefts and attempted thefts from alleys in Forest Hill. We are looking for a black male, 50-55 years old, 5’6″-5’8″, and about 170-180lbs.
He has been seen driving a maroon 1996 Mazda pick-up with a VA tag XNX-9398. He has been seen in most of the alleys and could be considered the “Junk Man” as he rolls the alleys looking for metal that he takes to the recycling operations throughout the city.
Let me clarify- we know who the truck is registered to, however we don’t know who is driving it. Also the address that those tags come back to is a vacant rental house that has been that way for quite sometime and owner has no forwarding info on this individual. We need to ID this guy so that we can get warrants for him in some of our pending cases. We can’t locate the owner to see if he is the suspect or has loaned the truck out to someone and we need to find out where he is laying his head at night. We have several eyewitnesses that can visually ID him, but the latest picture we have is several years old.
We need the community to call 646-5100 when they see him or this vehicle so that we can get a unit into the area and ID the driver. Please do not approach this guy because we have no idea what he may do if he’s confronted. If you see his vehicle in your area, just call 646-5100 and the RPD will take care of the rest.
Most of the items taken thus far have been just inside of resident’s yards and not secured. These types of criminals are opportunistic – they will take what can be seen, what is insecure and what they can trade for cash/drugs. Please lock up your stuff!! The stolen items that have been reported include aluminum car ramps, a small patio grill, and a roll of chain-link fencing. I’m sure there are people who have had things stolen and have not reported it to us.
Thanks for getting the word out.
Sgt. Chris Jernigan
RPD 3rd Precinct – Sector 312
Lord….he was just in my alley this morning. He has a very small trailer on the pick up? He stopped to pick up a large microwave cardboard box I had sitting by the super cans. I saw him, he saw me…..I had no idea. I am 5200 King William and this was about 90 minutes ago. It was a small maroon pick up, he was black, had some gray in his hair and I think he had a bit of beard too.
I had a portable trash can with wheels (grey and blue) taken from my alley 2 weeks ago – 5007 King William Road
I did let the police know of this but they didn’t ask much. I couldn’t recall what color shirt the guy had on due to the large box he had in front of him. I pretty much got a, Ma’am, call as soon as you see him next time.
Saw him today on 26th, called police. I hope they got him, he had a truckload full of stuff.
Where on 26th?
I was out dog walking later in the evening and there were 4 squad cars in the 500 block of W 26th…a house that is for sale (and currently vacant) had been broken into and the copper pipes had been stolen.
26th and bainbridge, im sure he was headed to cash it all in. In an unrelated note, there were kids running through alleys last night, trying to get into cars. Keep your eyes peeled.
FYI, maroon pick up truck running the alley’s on Even side of King William about 30 min ago. RPD called and in the area if you see him please call 646-5100. Hopefully they can catch him and get some info.
With everyone carrying a cell camera with them 24/7 these days, it would be very helpful to post of pic’s.
He’s out here right now between w 31st and and 30th. Called the non emergancy number
Probably too late
wow, police just drove by. must really want him. had a little girls bike in his bed
I hope they nabbed him!
next time i see him im jumping in the car and following him.
He’s in Westover Hills right now. Caledonia Rd alley. I just called the non emergency #.
1:30 Friday
Wish someone could get his license #!
Debbie, See above – they have his # (it’s how I knew it was the truck they were looking for). The problem is that the license comes from a vacant house w/no forwarding address, so they are trying to figure out who is driving it and where they live
Oops – thanks Megan!
I was told in a community meeting some time back that 911 and the non emergency police #646-5100 are answered by the same operators. Don’t be shy about calling 911. It’s much easier to remember.
I second paul. This is theft and its an emergency.
THEY GOT HIM!!! I saw him driving on semmes,this time with a whole load of stuff. I followed him for a while but lost him, but i got a call later saying they had pulled him over.
Terrific!
WHoohoo!
Happy to hear it. This is a great example of how this blog can be a great tool in keeping crime down in the area. Richard you might want to let the boys at the 312 know that the posting they sent helped.
[...] as some surrounding neighborhoods. A few weeks ago, James was reading this blog, and came across this post. To sum it up, a guy has been driving through alley’s in his burgundy mazda pick-up truck [...]
Well, that didn’t seem to slow him up as I just saw him driving in the alley between caledonia/king william in the 5200 block. His truck seemed pretty full of junk.
Page, did you call RPD?
I wasn’t sure if i should. since he was questioned once. and truthfully, he was hauling ass down the alley. Will do so next time.