Bethany Police Search For Suspects In Cemetery Car Theft

Bethany Police are looking for someone who broke into a woman's car while she was working in a cemetery earlier this month. The thieves took Christmas gifts, cash and credit cards. Investigators have now released new surveillance video in hopes of catching the suspects.

Bethany Police say it's possible the thieves followed the woman from where she was shopping to the cemetery, knowing she had the valuables inside her car.

The woman spent the afternoon Christmas shopping and her car was filled with numerous shopping bags full of gifts. But before taking her gifts home, police say the woman stopped by the Bethany cemetery to remove flags from the graves.

But while she was collecting flags so they wouldn't be stolen, someone was stealing her gifts.

The thieves smashed out her car window, taking the gifts, credit and debit cards, and $820 in cash.

“It's typical. They will liquidate the cards as quick as possible before they are able to close them,” said Det. Brady Schimedeberg, Bethany Police.

Within five minutes of the crime, the thieves did just that. Surveillance cameras at the 7-11 at Wilshire and Council caught several men using the woman's stolen cards.

“Looks like up to four suspects at least using the stolen property. It doesn’t necessarily indicate they were the ones who broke in to the car,” said Schimedeberg.

You can see in the video one of the guys used the woman's card to buy gas, while others go into the convenience store to buy cartons of cigarettes. Another suspect went next door to buy booze. The men then pile back into a white Toyota Corolla and leave.

Police say those men went to two more stores, again using the stolen credit cards before they were cut off.

Police were able to lift two finger prints from the victim's car. The prints are now being processed in the lab to hopefully find a match.

Detectives believe the men are from the Bethany area. If you recognize them, call police immediately.