POLICE BLOTTER: Residents Interrupt Burglary; Walmart Clerks Scammed

Residents Return Home to Find Burglars Inside

West Des Moines Police officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress at a house in the 1200 block of 33^rd Street on Jan. 3 The property owners returned home about 6:45 p.m. to find their back door of open and thought the burglar or burglars might still be inside.

Officer Rolph Jacob said that when he arrived at the house, he found the back door had been forced open and several rooms had been ransacked. A bedroom window had also been broken out by the suspects, apparently when the family's young son entered the open door and startled the burglars.

A neighbor told police that when he returned to his home around 4:40 that afternoon, he noticed a red car parked in the street and occupied by two young, white males. He saw them get out of the car, knock at the front door and, when there was no response, walk around to the rear of the house.

Another neighbor also reported seeing the car and told police it looked "out of place" in the neighborhood.

Several items were taken during the burglary, but have not yet been itemized.

Police recovered a cell phone from the yard of the property that does not belong to the victims. Officers also recovered a black bag in one of the bedrooms that apparently had been left behind by the suspects. It contained a laptop computer, a pry bar, a pill bottle and other items that were not named.

Damage to the window and frame was estimated at $500.

Walmart Cashiers Scammed by Quick-Change Artists

A quick-change artist and his partner got away with about $100 in a scam at Walmart Supercenter, 6365 Stagecoach Drive, on Jan. 4, according to a report on file with the West Des Moines Police Department.

Video from the store’s surveillance camera showed two white male suspects, one with a buzz-cut and receding hairline wearing a gray sweatshirt and red Nebraska Cornhusker shirt, the other wearing a black baseball hat and black coat.

According to West Des Moines Police Officer Matthew Granzow’s report, one of the suspects used a $50 bill to pay for an item totaling 78 cents.  He then purchased another small item and used a $1 bill to pay it.

Store officials told police that during the second transaction, the suspect began to ask for change and counted out the bills that he had in hand. At one point, the man reached over the counter and took the $50 bill from the open cash register.

The second suspect was standing in line behind the first one during this time.

The two then went to another register and the first suspect bought a Dr. Pepper, using the same $50 to pay for it. After receiving change, the suspect bought a bunch of bananas, paying for the fruit with exact change. During that transaction, the suspect began to ask for change and count out bills.

Granzow said the surveillance tape confirmed the story the store employees had shared. The Windsor Heights Walmart had reported a similar scam on the same day.

ABC Photographer Reports Theft of $30,000 Lens at Rock the Caucus

An ABC News photographer reported the theft of a 20X Canon lens from his bag while he was filming the Rock the Caucus event at Valley High School Jan. 3. Thomas Vlodek, 60, of Chicago said he had left his camera bag unattended as he roamed around the gymnasium and discovered the lens, valued at $30,000, was missing.

Vlodek notified school authorities of the missing camera lens, but it was not found. He then made a report to the West Des Moines Police Department.

Underwear in the Underwear

Matthew Alan Ford, 19, of Van Meter was charged with fifth-degree theft after an employee at the Younkers store in Valley West Mall, 1551 Valley West Drive, allegedly observed him stuffing a pair of Calvin Klein undershorts valued at $28 in his own pants.

According to the police report, Ford told Officer Rolph Jacob of the West Des Moines Police Department “that he did, in fact, steal the underwear … and that he had no reason other than that he didn’t want to pay for them and didn’t have the money to do so.”

Bambino’s Restaurant Loses Part of its Sign – Again

When your restaurant’s name is Bambino’s, perhaps mischief just happens. Sometime overnight Jan. 4-5, someone stole half of the Bambino’s Restaurant sign at 4221 S. Orilla Road.

It wasn’t the first time. A portion of the sign – which includes two parts – was also stolen about four months ago.

The restaurant is located near the Great Western Bike Trail, which starts in Des Moines and ends in Martensdale. West Des Moines Police Officer Tom Wynn wrote in his report that the sign would have been too large to carry on a bicycle.

Burglar Gains Access Through Dog Door, Steals Guns and Electronics

Police are investigating the theft of two guns and other items from a house in the 1500 block of 18^th Street.

The guns are a Rugar 243 and a Rugar 10-22 rifle, each valued at $700.

Also missing were tools valued at $500, a computer work station valued at $925, jewelry and precious metals valued at $100, suitcases valued at $200, and a digital camera valued at $250.

According to a report on file with the West Des Moines Police Department, the suspect entered the home through a dog door. The homeowner has three large dogs, one of which is aggressive. She told police she suspects a relative responsible for the theft and does not believe he acted alone because the aggressive dog was penned in her bedroom when she arrived home and discovered the burglary.