OKC Police Catch Suspect In String Of Home Burglaries

A burglary victim helped police catch a man suspected of breaking into several homes in northwest Oklahoma City.

The burglaries were reported near N.W. 122nd Street and County Line Road. Police said someone entered the homes through unlocked back doors and stole cell phones, purses, laptops, electronic readers and other items.

A victim who'd had a cell phone stolen reported to police a phone number had been called numerous times after the phone was taken. Police traced the number to an apartment in the same area where the burglaries had occurred.

On April 12, they spoke to the woman who lived in the apartment. When officers were inside, they noticed men's clothing and shoes, although the woman said she lived there with just her young daughter.

The woman later admitted her boyfriend and baby's father, 23-year-old Dwane Blonner, often stayed at the apartment. When she showed police a photo of Blonner, they determined it matched the image of the burglary suspect seen on home surveillance video.

Police searched the home and found a purse reported stolen in one of the robberies. They also discovered Blonner had an outstanding warrant in Oklahoma County for first-degree burglary. Investigators decided to track him down and arrest him.

Police asked Blonner's girlfriend to text him and say their daughter was ill, and to meet them at Mercy Hospital. Blonner texted back and refused to meet her at the hospital, saying "police are always there."

Blonner told his girlfriend to pick him up at a friend's apartment in the 9700 block of N. Council Road. An officer rode with the woman, while other officers drove squad cars to the apartment complex.

Police saw Blonner approach his girlfriend's car, but when he spotted an officer exiting another vehicle, he ran. After a short foot chase, a police canine helped capture Blonner. Officers arrested him on six complaints of first-degree burglary. He's currently in the Oklahoma County jail.