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Show Officers Crack Major Burglary Ring Operating Out of Park City A lengthy burglary and theft investigation, involving at least six Utah law enforcement agencies, culminated cul-minated in Park City last Friday when officers surrounded sur-rounded a Park . Avenue condominium and arrested Lane Keller, 27, a Park City resident of about one year. An additional warrant has been issued for another suspect thought to be living with Keller. Officers hope to take him into custody short- iy- Inside unit number 202, officers seized tens of thousands thou-sands of dollars worth of stolen merchandise allegedly taken in burglaries and thefts in Park City and along the Wasatch Front over the past year. Park City Police Chief Joe Offret said Keller admitted complicity in the October 8 burglary at Adolph's where $1,500 in cash and receipts were taken from the restaurant's restau-rant's safe. Offret added he plans to make a detailed examination of the confiscated confiscat-ed evidence this week and hopes links can be established establish-ed to other Park City thefts and burglaries. According to Offret, the suspect was connected with the Adolph's burglary when stolen receipts from the restaurant were discovered among other items in the condominium unit. The Police Chief said the stolen property was stashed throughout the condominium in closets, cupboards and much of it was just laying in plain sight. The evidence, according to Offet, included firearms, stereo equipment, false ID forms, a notary seal, drivers license examiner's badge among other items thought to have been taken in a series of crimes. Offret added the suspect was in possession also of a new Mazda XR-7 which was also stolen. The burglar or burglars were apparently very professional profes-sional in the manner in which they approached their work, according to Offret. That theory is supported by evidence seized from the condo, which included equipment equip-ment used to circumvent burglar alarms and day pack filled with lock picking tools. The Police Chief added he was under the impression one of the suspects was actually a locksmith. The investigation and subsequent sub-sequent arrest was spearheaded spear-headed by the West Valley Police Dept. having jurisdiction jurisdict-ion over an area where many of the crimes are thought to have occurred. Offret said PCPD officers had been assisting West Valley in the investigation for several months. He said about a week before the arrest was made, the condo was put under continuous surveillance. Officers began gathering in Park City early the day of the arrest. According to Offret at least 20 officers participated in the operation which began around 10 a.m. Summit County Sheriffs established roadblocks to prevent an escape out of town while other officers concealed themselves around the condominium. con-dominium. The arrest was actually made by PCPD Officer Carey Yates and a West Valley policeman. Offret Of-fret said Yates and the West Valley officer approached the condo, knocked on the door and when the suspect appeared ap-peared placed him under arrest. Agencies involved in the arrest included the PCPD, Summit County Sheriff's Office, West Valley PD, Federal Marshall's Office, Post Office Investigators and an officer from the Utah Fish and Game Dept. Offret said the Federal Marshalls and Post Office investigators were involved because the suspects may be connected with a recent burglary at the Midway Post Office, a federal offense, he added the Fish and Game officer participated because the suspects are also thought to be involved with a recent theft of a howitzer used for avalanche control at Alta. As a side line, the condominium condomi-nium occupied by Keller was apparently broken into after the arrest and ski equipment and clothing belonging to the condominium's owner taken. Offret said Keller paid $600 per month rent for the unit and admitted his only source of income was crime. |