Investigation Leads to More Charges for Suspects from Previous Theft Case

    Detectives with the Benton Police Department arrested two suspects, Thomas Shirey (18 YOA) and Keith Moore (19 YOA), on 10/9/13 on additional charges stemming from an earlier incident on 10/2/13.  

 

    Shirey and Moore were originally arrested for Breaking or Entering and Theft of Property after officers observed suspicious activity and started investigating.  Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and obtained warrants for their arrest in relation to other crimes.  They are both charged with four additional counts of Theft of Property and Breaking or Entering each.  

 

 

    On 10/2/13, at approximately 12:50 AM, an officer observed a subject wearing all dark clothing riding a bicycle in the area of Lynnwood Drive.  Due to recent vehicle break-ins and thefts, the officer took notice of them and started following him.   

 

While following the suspect, the officer observed them fall off of their bicycle at which time contact was made with them.  The suspect, later identified as Thomas Shirey (18 YOA), told officers he wasn’t doing anything illegal and had just visited some friends in the area.  

 

 

    During the conversation with Shirey, a call was dispatched about suspicious activity being called in near the area of Lynnwood and Cedarhurst involving subjects on bicycles possibly breaking into vehicles.  The information provided by dispatch indicated that Shirey was possibly one of the suspects.  

 

    During the investigation it was determined that Shirey and another suspect, identified as Keith Moore (19 YOA), were ‘working’ the neighborhood trying to find items to steal out of vehicles. Moore was located a short time later and was also taken into custody without incident.  

 

    Both Shirey and Moore are charged with Breaking or Entering and Theft of Property (Felony).  Additionally, Shirey was charged with Possession of an Instrument of Crime for tools found in his possession that are commonly used to facilitate the break-in of vehicles.  This is an on-going investigation and additional charges could be possible regarding it.  

 

    Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 778-1171 or 315-TIPS. Individuals also may send an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip.   

 

    Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.