June, July have been busy months for petty thefts in Adel

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Some three dozen thefts were reported in Adel July 9 and July 17.

ADEL, Iowa — Adel residents saw a big spike in thefts in recent weeks, with some 44 thefts reported to police between June 14 and July 17, according to Adel Police Department records.

The night of July 9 alone saw nearly two dozen thefts reported by property owners, including two stolen motor vehicles, and July 17 saw another dozen reports, with 11 at the River Vista Mobile Park.

Most of the crimes have involved the thieves’ rifling through vehicles.

“Tons of break ins all across town this morning,” said a property owner July 9 on Facebook. “Also check bank info because they’re on a spending spree. Very random things stolen, and cash has been left in a lot of them.”

Adel Police Chief Gordy Shepherd said his department is investigating the rash of thefts.

“We ended up taking over 20 vehicle burglary reports on July 9,” Shepherd said. “Some of the property taken out of cars has been already recovered in another city.”

Shepherd said he could not describe the crimes in detail or “comment any further about the cases” because it “could possibly hamper investigative efforts. I can say that our officers are working closely with other departments in and around the the Des Moines metro area due to similar burglaries in those communities.”

About a week following the night of the 23 thefts, victims at the River Vista Mobile Park reported a second spate of crimes.

“The July 17 car prowls look to be a different set of suspects,” Shepherd said. “We do have security camera footage from residents and are working on making identification on two male subjects.”

The following thefts and burglaries have been reported to the Adel Police Department since the start of the third week in June:

June 14: Officers responded to a burglary report in the 2300 block of Greene Street.

June 17: Officers responded to a theft report in the 500 block of Timberview Drive.

June 20: Officer responded to a burglary report in the 500 block of S. Fourth Street and a burglary report in the 200 block of N. Fifth Street.

June 21: Officers responded to a theft report in the 1500 block of Main Street.

June 26: Officers responded to a theft report in the 1000 block of Greene Street.

June 27: Officers responded to a theft report in the 1600 block of Prairie Street.

June 30: Officers responded to a report of theft of four-wheeler in the 1100 block of S. 12th Street.

July 5: Officers responded to a theft report in the 100 block of N. Ninth Street.

July 9: Officers responded to a report of theft of a motor vehicle in the 1500 block of Horse n Buggy Drive and in the 1400 block of Beverly Circle. Officers responded to two theft reports in the 1600 block of Pleasant Street, a theft report in the 1600 block of HyVue Street, three theft reports in the 1500 block of Horse n Buggy Drive, three theft reports in the 1700 block of S. 14th Street, four theft reports in the 1400 block of Beverly Circle, a theft report in the 500 block of N. 15th Street, a theft report in the 1100 block of Main Street, two theft reports in the 1400 block of Lynne Drive, two theft reports in the 500 block of S. 16th Street, a theft report in the 1400 block of Locust Street and a theft report in the 1000 of Evans View Drive.

July 11: Officers responded to a burglary report in 700 block of S. 11th Street.

July 12: Officers responded to a theft report in the 400 block of S. 11th Street.

July 13: Officers responded to a theft report in the 100 block of N. 17th Street.

July 14: Officers responded to a theft report in the 600 block of Nile Kinnick Drive S.

July 17: Officers responded to a theft report in the 800 block of Greenwood Hills Drive and 11 theft reports in the River Vista Trailer Park.

1 COMMENT

  1. Adel residents really should invest in hidden motion cameras for vehicles or even a trail cam. Probably wouldn’t hold up in court but street justice tastes more sweet anyhow.

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