Post by Clouseau on Feb 26, 2007 23:43:43 GMT
wcco.com/topstories/local_story_056163919.html
Career Criminals May Not Stay Behind Bars For Long
Esme Murphy
Reporting
(WCCO) (Minnesota, USA) - A suburban police department recently recovered thousands of dollars in valuables when they caught two career criminals.
The two men are accused in as many as 40 burglaries but they may be back out on the street again soon.
Police said the most valuable items were sold on the street. The items were stolen from Bloomington, Wayzata, Orono, Deephaven, Burnsville, Minneapolis and Afton.
Court documents said the mastermind behind the thefts is Richard Blair, a man who calls himself the Pink Panther and prides himself on being a professional burglar.
He has 22 arrests in the area dating back to the 1980s.
St. Paul Police are also familiar with Blair and said when he wasn't working alone, he was working with some of the most sophisticated burglars in town.
Police said one of Blair's partners was Michael New, a career criminal known for being one of the best safecrackers around.
"It's a skill set that not a lot of people have," said St. Paul Police spokesperson Tom Walsh.
New was arrested for breaking in and stealing a scaffolding company's cashbox in October.
WCCO-TV showed the company's CEO, Jack Katzenberger New's 20-page arrest record.
"This is amazing," Katzenberger said.
Just last week, Katzenberger got a letter saying the scaffolding company's case had been dismissed. He was told the judge hadn't given prosecutors enough time.
"It's irritating," Katzenberger said.
Police said property crimes like this are dismissed more often and convicts get lighter sentences than in crimes against people.
Walsh said that's how the system works. It just does not have enough resources to tackle both. He admits it's frustrating.
"As a homeowner, it doesn't make me feel very good," Walsh said.
Just this week, Blair started serving time for domestic assault, but he'll be out in less than two years. New is free right now, but he will report to prison for burglary in the next couple of weeks.
Esme Murphy
Reporting
(WCCO) (Minnesota, USA) - A suburban police department recently recovered thousands of dollars in valuables when they caught two career criminals.
The two men are accused in as many as 40 burglaries but they may be back out on the street again soon.
Police said the most valuable items were sold on the street. The items were stolen from Bloomington, Wayzata, Orono, Deephaven, Burnsville, Minneapolis and Afton.
Court documents said the mastermind behind the thefts is Richard Blair, a man who calls himself the Pink Panther and prides himself on being a professional burglar.
He has 22 arrests in the area dating back to the 1980s.
St. Paul Police are also familiar with Blair and said when he wasn't working alone, he was working with some of the most sophisticated burglars in town.
Police said one of Blair's partners was Michael New, a career criminal known for being one of the best safecrackers around.
"It's a skill set that not a lot of people have," said St. Paul Police spokesperson Tom Walsh.
New was arrested for breaking in and stealing a scaffolding company's cashbox in October.
WCCO-TV showed the company's CEO, Jack Katzenberger New's 20-page arrest record.
"This is amazing," Katzenberger said.
Just last week, Katzenberger got a letter saying the scaffolding company's case had been dismissed. He was told the judge hadn't given prosecutors enough time.
"It's irritating," Katzenberger said.
Police said property crimes like this are dismissed more often and convicts get lighter sentences than in crimes against people.
Walsh said that's how the system works. It just does not have enough resources to tackle both. He admits it's frustrating.
"As a homeowner, it doesn't make me feel very good," Walsh said.
Just this week, Blair started serving time for domestic assault, but he'll be out in less than two years. New is free right now, but he will report to prison for burglary in the next couple of weeks.