Jul 25, 2007 12:15 pm US/Central
Stained-Glass Thieves Caught In St. Paul
St. Paul (AP) ―
A trio of thieves found a window of opportunity in the homes they burglarized.
Starting in late May, police said, the thieves dressed as construction workers as they raided vacant homes that were either clearly being renovated or for sale in the Twin Cities area, stealing leaded and stained-glass windows worth up to $2,500 each.
"It's unusual," Sgt. Ken Jensen said. "But criminals are very creative."
Donned in their disguises, with workers' buckets and tools, they went to the houses in the middle of the day. They used tools to dislodge the windows so neighbors didn't become suspicious.
"They looked like they knew what they were doing," he said.
The thieves would then dicker with antique shops, pitting one against the other, Jensen said. Most of the windows were valued between $189 and $865 apiece, but one was worth $2,500.
While they did steal other things they could hock, the windows that were the common thread.
Derek Chapman's house in St. Paul was up for sale when it was burglarized. A 105-year-old stained-glass window was stolen, as was an antique stove, he said.
"My wife and I never realized what it would be worth, if you take the glass out and sell it," Chapman said. "I was speaking to the Police Department, and they told me it's big business."
St. Paul police caught up with the suspects about two weeks ago after a resident spotted them putting a DVD player into an SUV outside a neighbor's home, followed the men, got a license plate number and called police, Jensen said. The victim said five of his windows were stolen. Police found six windows in the car when they arrested the three a few days later.
Investigators forwarded the cases against the three Minneapolis men -- ages 40, 47 and 56 -- to the Ramsey County attorney's office for charges.
Police put 157 windows on display Wednesday in hopes of matching them with homeowners.
"We know we have more victims, both here and in Minneapolis," Jensen said. "Anywhere there are older homes with these types of ornate windows is probably where these are from."
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