Windshield bandit case gets cracked
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Kylan Jacob Burrell didn’t want a ticket for driving his car with a cracked windshield.
However, authorities said the Burlington man has been charged with third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief because of accusations that Burrell broke into a local garage/auto parts store and stole a replacement windshield.
Burrell, 18, has pleaded not guilty on the charges and is set to stand trial on May 6.
Authorities also have filed a complaint accusing Burrell’s alleged accomplice, 18-year-old Chris Bowman, also of Burlington, with third-degree burglary and interference with official acts.
A combination of eye witness statements and shoe impressions left at the scene of the Feb. 15 burglary, Mike’s Auto Parts, 3881 Summer St., led Des Moines County Sheriff’s detectives to the suspects.
Detectives contend Burrell climbed a fence at the business and tried to steal a windshield from a truck.
Unsuccessful, detectives said Burrell went to work on another truck in the lot and managed to disengage it from its windshield, causing extensive damage.
Detectives found shoe impressions on the hoods of the two trucks, along with tire impressions near the business.
Working with information gathered during the investigation, detectives went to Burrell’s home in the 500 block of Adams Street where they found a recently removed cracked windshield on the driveway.
Similar tire and shoe prints found at the scene of the crime were discovered near the auto glass, authorities said in a report.
Bowman told investigators he went with Burrell to the auto parts store during business hours, but denied returning when the business was closed and helping Burrell in the burglary.
Burrell, on the other hand, told authorities he went to Mike’s Auto Parts at 2 a.m., and damaged the trucks while taking the windshield.
Burrell said he handed the windshield to Bowman, who was waiting on the other side of the fence.
When confronted with that information, Bowman, according to the complaint, affirmed his participation and said he had lied to detectives the first time he was interviewed.
Tags: burglary, jacob