The Leitchfield Police Department is getting the word out that a serial burglar could be operating in the region.
LPD Det. Sgt. Ian Renfrow said officers on Tuesday evening responded to Hatfield Inn at 769 White Street on a complaint regarding a male attempting to break into vending machines.
Upon arriving at the scene, police made contact with the suspect, Kevin T. Sanders, of Springfield.
“During the investigation, Sanders was observed using a tubular lock picking tool to attempt to open the vending machine to gain access – after several failed attempts, Sanders attempted to leave the premises before contact was made by law enforcement,” Renfrow said.
Sanders’ black, 1995 GMC Suburban, police discovered, was parked at the Valero gas station adjacent to Hatfield Inn. In plain view, police saw “canvas bags, similar to money bags, in the front seat in addition to miscellaneous hand and power tools,” according to Renfrow.
Sanders was arrested and charged with attempted third-degree burglary (class D felony) and possession of burglary tools (class A misdemeanor). He was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
In a similar case on July 1, Leitchfield police investigated an incident, also at Hatfield Inn, where a suspect was observed on surveillance video using a tool to enter the vending machine and remove the bill collector.
It is estimated by the victim that approximately $500 was stolen in addition to $265.23 spent to repair the machine, police said.
While Sanders was still in custody at the Grayson County Detention Center following his arrest Tuesday night, police compared surveillance videos and still shots from the two incidents and confirmed Sanders as the offender in both cases.
In the July 1 burglary, police discovered Sanders left the scene in a black SUV, resulting in officers obtaining and executing a search warrant on Sanders’ vehicle Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.
During a search of the GMC, officers located “an abundance of differing lock picking tools and tensioners as well as $223 cash, all small denominations. A large number of different keys were located in the vehicle,” Renfrow said.
A criminal complaint for third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief (class A misdemeanor) was submitted and a warrant issued regarding the July 1 burglary. Sanders was served with the warrant while he was still lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
The suspect, though, due to the nature of the charges (non-violent felony and misdemeanors), was released on his own recognizance around noon on Wednesday (neither Leitchfield PD nor the Grayson Co. Detention Center sets bond amounts or controls when an inmate is released).
As a warning to law enforcement agencies and business owners in the region, the Leitchfield PD seeks to publicize Sanders’ face and vehicle. As it appears Sanders is a professional burglar due to the items found in his vehicle and the fact that he’s struck in Leitchfield at least twice in less than two weeks, even though he’s from Springfield, approximately 72 miles away.
“The Leitchfield Police Department requests anyone with knowledge of this person and his whereabouts be shared with local law enforcement agencies, as we believe he has been involved in similar incidents in the central Kentucky and southern Indiana,” Renfrow stated.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
