Car Burglar Goes on Spending Spree

(Shelby County, TN) A car burglar went on a shopping spree after stealing a checkbook out of one of the cars he broke into.

The burglaries happened in the Southwind and Windyke subdivisions.

Residents in the affluent, gated subdivision of Southwind say they feel their neighborhood is safe and are concerned to hear about the break-ins.

“I am shocked,” resident Winston Wolfe said. “There is a certain sense of security that I have at Southwind.”

Wolfe says he still always locks his doors.

But several of his neighbors didn’t lock their cars last week and provided an opening for thieves.

“The suspect broke into four vehicles,” Chip Washington said. Washington is the public information officer for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

He said the burglar stole items out of the unlocked cars, including a checkbook.

“He has since written a number of five checks at a couple of Target stores totaling $450,” Washington said.

Target’s security cameras snapped photos of the alleged burglar. The photos were taken at the Wolfchase Mall and the Target on Poplar Ave.

The sheriff’s office and concerned residents are hoping someone will identify the suspect.

“That’s a very distinctive look. I would think someone would recognize him,” Wolfe said.

Meanwhile investigators offer this advice to others: “It only takes a second to lock your car and lock your front door so hopefully things like this will not happen,” Washington said.

If you have information about the man in the photos, notify Detective Mickey Keaton at (901) 568-5645.