Lock your cars: Henry County experiences burglaries and vehicle thefts

MT. PLEASANT — Car burglaries and vehicle thefts by juveniles in Henry County led to arrests, questions about suspect transportation, concerns for repeated juvenile criminal behaviors, and reminders for residents to lock up their vehicles.

According to a news release from Mt. Pleasant Police Department, on Wednesday, March 20 shortly after 12:30 a.m., police were informed that a truck was stolen from the 1300 block of East Haynes Court in Mt. Pleasant.

“At approximately 3:17 hours, a juvenile female from Cedar Rapids turned herself in as she had been separated from the other juveniles that had stolen the truck,” the release stated.

An investigation then determined that a group of juveniles from Cedar Rapids and Mt. Pleasant had stolen the truck, gone to Winfield, broken into and burglarized multiple vehicles, then stole a car from Winfield and returned to Mt. Pleasant.

Law enforcement located both stolen vehicles in Mt. Pleasant around 7:45 a.m. After processing them, they were returned to the owners.

The juvenile which turned herself in was charged with theft in the first degree, a Class C felony and transported to a facility in Cedar Rapids. Additionally, the female juvenile identified herself along with Tylor Ward, 17 of Mt. Pleasant, as an offender in this incident. Ward was also charged with theft in the first degree.

Not all other suspects were located, and the investigation is currently ongoing. Mt. Pleasant Police Department anticipates more charges to come.

After Winfield Police Department reported instances of car burglaries not only on Wednesday, March 2 around 2 a.m. but also on Saturday, March 23 around 2 p.m., they took to social media to remind residents to always lock their vehicles.

“Check your vehicles and cameras and call if your car was burglarized or you have something on camera,” the Winfield Police Department announced following the incident. “Let us know if they went through your vehicles so we can file additional charges on top of what Mt. Pleasant files.”

While the afternoon incident on March 23 consisted of a young juvenile caught burglarizing a car and taking $1.80 in change, which was returned, the police department takes it seriously, especially in light of the burglaries and vehicle thefts earlier in the week.

“This incident and the one earlier this week all involved unlocked cars,” Winfield Police Department stated. “2 a.m. or 2 p.m., it doesn’t seem to matter. … Keep your cars locked up.”

Henry County Sheriff’s Office reiterated the sentiment as they shared educational resources reminding residents, “Almost ALL stolen vehicles are taken when left unlocked and the keys are left inside.”

Police encourage always locking your car and taking your keys, even when the car is in the driveway, even in parking lots, and even at gas stations. Taking these steps can help to prevent some of the incidents which occurred last Wednesday.

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Wednesday’s instance of burglaries and vehicle theft go deeper than just the crime themselves, though, as Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Lyle Murray reached out to legislators and juvenile court officials regarding the instance.

According to an email from Murray to Juvenile Court Officer Julie Goben and multiple legislators, the juvenile suspects from Cedar Rapids in Wednesday’s incident were identified as runaways from Four Oaks treatment center, where the single female suspect turned herself in.

“[The female suspect] admitted to driving the stolen vehicle, which is a C felony,” Murray wrote. “The on-call juvenile court person was contacted, and we were told she would not be placed or transported by [a juvenile court officer]. Four Oaks refused to come down.”

Murray expressed dissatisfaction that Mt. Pleasant Police officers then had to transport the juvenile to Cedar Rapids because it left the city unprotected. Additional officers had to be called in to cover the streets of Mt. Pleasant during the transport. He also questioned what agency would cover the cost of the additional officers and transportation in this instance.

“Next time this happens, because it will, … do we just cut the escaped court ordered female loose because nobody wants to pick her up?” Murray asked. “If it was someone from New York, we would not transport. Looking for answers.”

This incident with juveniles from Four Oaks in Cedar Rapids recalled the struggles the Mt. Pleasant Police Department dealt with for many years with the Christamore House juvenile treatment center, and its runaways entering the Mt. Pleasant area and causing issues that required law enforcement intervention last year.

At one-point last fall, Murray reported the police department received 18 calls for service to the Christamore House in 15 days. He also stated that he had contacted the Department of Human Services twice on the facility due to broken windows, broken furniture, minors climbing out of windows, fighting in the streets, assaults on staff members, and inappropriate sexual relations on campus. Additionally, Murray pointed out that all these additional calls and lack of support came a significant financial cost.

Murray asked the community to call their representatives and ask for change due to the risk to Christamore House juveniles and staff along with risk to the community. After the community reached out to the legislators, Christamore House was closed effective Sept. 1, 2023.

“Everybody wanted to be notified in case something like the Christamore House happened again so there were no surprises,” Murray said. “Here’s notice to all.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com