OK Serial Burglar Arrested Again For Selling Stolen Property

A serial burglar arrested numerous times in 2013 now faces more counts for a burglary of a city manager's garage.

Police say the man was stealing and selling the property to pay for his bond from a previous burglary arrest.

Anthony Smith, 31, is no stranger to Shawnee police and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's office. News 9 was able to find more than a dozen mug shots of Smith from 2013 alone for burglary.

In his most recent burglary heist, Smith admits to stealing more than $3,000 worth of property from the garage of the Tecumseh City manager. He pawned those items at a Shawnee pawn shop back in September.

"Right around the same time as the city manager's burglary, he was breaking into storage buildings here in Tecumseh," said Tecumseh's Assist. Police Chief, JR Kidney.

LeadsOnline, a nationwide system used by law enforcement to track stolen property, led police to Smith. Police eventually got the confession they wanted, and was able to return the stolen property to the city manager.

"Basically told me that he was stealing to pay for attorney fees, and support his family," said Kidney.

"These items that we can get back, can we get them back today," said Kidney during an interview with Smith.

"Yeah," said Smith.

"I mean, are they at your house, or do you have them somewhere else," said Kidney.

"I've got them. I can get them back to you today," said Smith.

During the interview before Thanksgiving, Smith told Kidney he has four young children and struggles to get back on his feet.

"And I've got so much stress," said Smith. "I shouldn't have done what I did. I just want the best for them. I can't look them in the face and tell them I have no answers for them. It breaks my heart."

Smith admits he's been battling a drug addiction and lost his job. Within the last year, he's been booked into the Pottawatomie county jail at least 13 times in 2013. Once in 2012, and in 2008.

"It seems like stuff is always setting me back," Smith said.

The Tecumseh Police department has filed charges with the Pottawatomie County District Attorney's office to request a warrant for Smith's arrest.

Smith will also face a felony charge of false declarations of a pawn ticket by Shawnee police.