Portage Police now reporting smash-and-grab vehicle entries
the smash-and-grab thief who was working the southwest corner of Chesterton over the weekend may have moved to Portage.
Portage Police are currently investigating at least three reports of forced entries into vehicles parked in a subdivision south of U.S. Highway 6 and accessed by Ash Street, most likely occurring sometime after 2 a.m. on Wednesday:
in the 5600 block of Ardmore Ave. a vehicles window was broken and a Garmin GPS navigation unit removed. Total estimate damage and loss: $500.
in the 3600 block of Walsh Street a vehicles window was broken and a Garmin GPS unit and a black Coach purse containing cash and credit cards removed. Total estimated loss: $330.
in the 3600 block of Baldwin Street a vehicles window was broken and a Tom Tom GPS unit and iPod removed. Total estimated damage and loss: $600.
two similarities between these incidents and the 15 or so reported in Chesterton are apparent: entry was made by inserting a crow bar or similar tool into the window frame and prying until the window broke; and the thief appears to be targeting vehicles with GPS units left in plain view.
Criminal Trespass
At 11:11 a.m. Wednesday Patricia a. Watson, 67, of Gary, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct at the Best Western Hotel at 6200 U.S. Highway 20.
according to police, an officer was dispatched to the hotel in response to a disruptive guest found to be smoking in a non-smoking room and shouting obscenities. the manager asked her to leave the property and she refused, continued to be belligerent, and became abusive when informed that her credit card had an insufficient balance to pay for her nights stay, police said.
When management then asked the officer to escort Watson off the propertynever mind the paymentWatson refused, police said.
Watson also showed signs of intoxication, police said.
in addition, a computer check showed that Watson was wanted on an active warrant issued through LaPorte County and charging her with failure to appear on a charge of theft, police said.
Watson was transported to Porter County Jail.
Theft of Vehicle
Sometime between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday someone stole a vehicle parked in the 5000 block of Stagecoach Road.
the victim advised police that the vehicle had been unlocked and the ignition key left in the center console.
Police estimated the loss at $5,000.
