FROM CHIEF P.K. JOHNSON
MILLBROOK POLICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, June 19, 2023, Millbrook Police responded to the 5800 block of Pineleaf Drive with regard to a report of Criminal Mischief. Upon arrival, officers were advised that two unidentified subjects entered the victim’s property, apparently to commit a theft, but became aware that the victim’s property was protected by surveillance cameras, at which time they fled the property. The incident was captured by the complainant’s surveillance camera.
On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, Millbrook police responded to two separate reports of theft from vehicles, which were committed between the 5000 block and 6000 block of Pineleaf Drive. These cases were forwarded to the Millbrook Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit. Based on intelligence gathered from the aforementioned surveillance video, detectives were able to identify one of the suspects depicted in said video. Pursuant to an investigation, a second suspect was able to be identified and evidence was discovered that linked both individuals to the thefts reported on June 20th. During the investigation, detectives were able to locate and recover a firearm that was taken from one of the victim’s vehicles.
On June 21, 2023, Millbrook detectives placed two juveniles under arrest, one a 16-year-old Millbrook resident, the other a 17-year-old Prattville resident, each being charged with (2) counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle, (1) count of Theft of Property 1st Degree and (1) count of Theft of Property 2nd Degree. Both juveniles were remanded to the custody of the Montgomery County Youth Detention Facility pending a hearing before the Elmore County Juvenile Court.
I want to commend our Criminal Investigations Unit for their work in this case, as well as thank our citizens that came forward during this investigation that were able to provide information that was extremely helpful. Within 24 hours of the initial reports being taken, our detectives were able to identify, apprehend and place the two alleged offenders under arrest, as well as recover a firearm that was stolen during the commission of these offenses. These are the results that we see when our citizens cooperate with law enforcement.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind our citizens to secure their vehicles and that we should never leave a firearm inside of a vehicle unsecured. This case is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t leave firearms in a vehicle. We’re seeing entirely too many firearms in the hands of juvenile offenders, who come into possession of firearms by unlawfully entering unsecure vehicles to commit a theft and find these weapons in the process.
Many of these crimes could be prevented if people would just take the time to remove valuables, particularly firearms, from their vehicle and secure them when exiting. 80% of all crimes are committed through opportunity. The more we remove those opportunities, the greater the likelihood of avoiding becoming the victim of a property crime, such as these. The overwhelming majority of the thefts from vehicle cases that we work are the result of people failing to secure their vehicles and leaving valuables unsecured.
During many of these investigations, particularly when multiple vehicles have been unlawfully entered in a residential area, we find that these offenders are moving through these areas on foot, checking for unsecured vehicles, bypassing those that are secured. When they find an unsecured vehicle, they quickly survey the vehicle’s interior, taking whatever valuables they can carry on their person, moving on to the next. More often than not, these individuals operate in pairs or groups, wear dark clothing, operating at night and utilizing cell phones to alert accomplices should they see law enforcement or anyone else approaching the area.
In addition to securing vehicles and removing unsecured property, we encourage people to park in well-lit areas, utilize motion sensing lighting sources and to install affordable surveillance equipment, which captures activity near the entrances of their homes and where vehicles are parked. Removing these opportunities could make all the difference should people with the intent to commit these type of crimes surveys your area. The criminal element prefers, what they consider to be, an easy or convenient target.
