By SALINA POST
The Salina Police Department (SPD) arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a string of vehicle burglaries, including the theft of a firearm.
SPD Cpt. James Feldman said officers were first called to the 400 block of Allwood Drive around 6:30 a.m. Monday after a 32-year-old male reported that his unlocked 2015 Chevy Silverado had been entered.
Surveillance footage from a Ring camera showed a male suspect entering the vehicle around 3:30 a.m. and stealing a backpack containing miscellaneous paperwork and a Smith & Wesson MP 40, a .40 caliber handgun.
Later that morning, at about 8 a.m., officers responded to a second call in the 2600 block of Quail Hollow. A 36-year-old female reported that her 2014 Honda Odyssey had been rummaged through, but nothing was taken. The woman's neighbor, a 47-year-old male, reported that his 2011 Ford F-150 had been broken into, and a backpack containing a Stanley Cup, an iPad, and iPad accessories had been stolen.
Both the Allwood and Quail Hollow incidents were caught on camera, with the suspect descriptions matching.
Using the "Find My iPad" feature, officers tracked the stolen iPad to 737 Fairdale, an apartment complex in Salina. While conducting follow-up in the area, officers identified and located Devon Schmidt, a 29-year-old male, as the suspect. Officers secured the residence, obtained a search warrant, and recovered the stolen handgun.
Although the stolen iPad had already been discarded in a dumpster and was not recovered, SPD arrested Schmidt at the scene. He was charged with three counts of vehicle burglary, two counts of theft, and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.