New Concord Police Officer Solves Sword Burglary Within Hours

CONCORD, CA — On her second day as a solo officer, a Concord police officer is credited with the arrest of a burglary suspect just hours after the crime involving a samurai sword took place, according to the Concord Police Department.

The burglary of a storefront run by a local nonprofit organization was reported to police Tuesday afternoon by an employee. Surveillance footage showed the suspect forced entry into the building overnight, took some items and left, police said.

A few hours after Officer Wilkens responded and took the burglary report, she was dispatched to a separate report of a suspicious person walking downtown with a sword in a sheath.

Wilkens recognized the sword bearer as the burglar in the surveillance video, police said, and immediately placed him under arrest.

"A subsequent search of his person also revealed the stolen property from the burglary," Concord police said. "... We love when these types of calls can be closed with an arrest."

The burglar was taken to jail and the sword was returned to the business, according to a statement posted to Concord Police Department's Facebook page.

"Welcome to the team Officer Wilkens!"