Door-to-door meat salesman again suspected in vehicle burglary, theft cases

For the second time in as many months, victims have reported noticing a suspicious man going door-to-door selling meat, just prior to discovering that their vehicles had been burglarized.

Officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department responded to 815 Douglas Drive shortly after 5:00 a.m. Thursday where the resident reported that a review of her security video revealed that three men had broken into two vehicles in her driveway during the night. The men reportedly rummaged about in a 2012 GMC truck and 2003 Ford Ranger, making off with a pair of Costa brand sunglasses valued at $240.

Officers had been called to 801 Douglas Drive just before midnight where victims reported that one car had been burglarized, a second stolen. The nineteen year old victim told officers that someone had taken a watch and a small amount of cash out of her 2003 BMW, resulting in an approximate$77 loss. She said the car had been left unlocked.

That victim’s mother, age forty-two, reported that her silver 2005 Mercedes C230 had been stolen sometime between 9:00 and 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. She reported that the car had been left unlocked with the keys stored in a compartment on the inside of the driver’s side door. Items inside the car that also were taken included the victim’s purse and two trail cameras. The car was said to have a value of $5,000, while the value of the contents was estimated at $2,200.

The women reported that prior to the crimes, at around 5:00 p.m., a man had been traveling door-to-door selling steaks. They said that he was traveling in a truck with red lettering. Officers heard a similar tale in May when a Kennedy Street resident reported that a suspicious man going door-to-door had attempted three times that day to sell him meat. That victim reported seeing the man looking inside vehicles as he passed them.

Investigation into the crimes is currently on-going through the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with information pertinent to the investigations is urged to contact the police department at 931-762-2276.

Authorities are continuing to urge residents to exercise caution with their vehicles. They recommend that you not leave valuables inside of vehicles, and be sure to lock them before walking away.