Officers arrest burglary suspect

ST. GEORGE – After investigating several reported burglaries of storage units in Beaver and Iron counties, Beaver County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested one suspect at his Cedar City residence Wednesday.

Shon Leavitt, 37, 923 S. 170 West, Cedar City, was charged with four counts of burglary/theft and 16 counts of criminal mischief, said Beaver County Sheriff Cameron Noel.

Noel said Leavitt is a suspect in five burglaries of storage units in Milford and at least three other burglaries of storage units in Iron County.

BCSO Det. Glen Woolsey found records of stolen items in a Cedar City pawnshop last week during his investigation, and watched surveillance footage that allegedly showed Leavitt and one other suspect at the shop, Noel said.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for Leavitt’s residence and recovered the allegedly stolen items valued at more than $15,000, Noel said.

“I think there are some others involved,” Noel said, adding that deputies are still investigating other possible suspects.

Noel said the Milford storage units that were burglarized were located inside gated facilities and locked, but the locks had been broken.

Iron County Sheriff’s Office Det. Jody Edwards said Leavitt is also a suspect in three storage unit burglaries that occurred in Iron County during the past three months.

Items allegedly stolen were anything suspects could sell, Edwards said, including televisions, tools and microwaves.

Edwards said a deputy pulled the suspect over Monday for a traffic violation and noticed a number of allegedly stolen items in the vehicle.

A detailed report of the suspects in the vehicle led to Leavitt’s arrest following the traffic stop, Edwards said.

“Sometimes good police work pays off,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the storage facility burglarized in Cedar City did not have a surveillance system or gate.

“Renters should communicate with the facility and unit owners (and) talk to them about cameras and alarm systems,” he said. “Otherwise, I’d say buyer beware.

By Nur Kausar – Email: nkausar@thespectrum.com

Original article from The Spectrum.
Article Link: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20111126/NEWS01/111260333/Officers-arrest-burglary-suspect

By theSpectrum in In the News on November 26, 2011