A pair of serial storage unit burglars has been arrested following a string of storage unit burglaries in Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties. On June 25th, Chadwick Lawrence Barker and Brittney Lee Jackson were arrested in Warrick County as they were attempting to burglarize units in a storage facility. Both suspects have been implicated in a series of similar burglaries that have occurred in both Warrick and Vanderburgh County over the last several months.
Detectives with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into what became multiple burglaries at storage facilities on the southeast side of Vanderburgh County. The investigation led to a cooperative effort with the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office who was experiencing a similar cluster of storage unit break-ins. Several investigative tools available to the Sheriff’s Office led to the identification of Barker and Jackson as suspects in these burglaries. Detectives were in the final stages of the investigation and preparing to make arrests when the duo was caught. The owner of the storage unit in Warrick County had deployed some preventative security measures that alerted him to a possible break-in. He notified the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office who responded and caught Barker and Jackson in the act.
Both suspects were interviewed by detectives from Vanderburgh County and Warrick County Sheriff’s Office and confessed to a large number of burglaries at several storage facilities. Detectives were able to recover large amount of property although many items had already been pawned or otherwise disposed of by the pair and others. The apartment both suspects lived in was furnished with mostly suspected stolen items. Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office detectives had to rent a moving truck to transport all the items to Sheriff’s Office facilities. Victims are being contacted to identify property and much has been returned. People who have experienced similar burglaries are encouraged to call either the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office at (812) 421-6339 or the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office at (812) 897-6180 depending on which county their storage unit is located.
In excess of several dozen units were burglarized and the suspects had some difficulty remembering where many of the items recovered were taken from or when exactly the burglaries occurred. Other suspects have been identified and it is believed that additional burglaries have occurred within the corporate limits of Evansville. The Evansville Police Department has been notified. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office will be seeking arrest warrants for both Barker and Jackson. Both are currently housed in the Warrick County Jail. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are likely.
ARRESTEDÂ (Warrick County Charges):
Chadwick Lawrence Barker (pictured above), 38, of Evansville. Burglary as a Level 5 Felony, Theft as a Level 6 Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine as a Level 6 Felony, Trespass as a Class A Misdemeanor
Brittney Lee Jackson (pictured above), 29, of Evansville. Burglary as a Level 5 Felony, Theft as a Level 6 Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine as a Level 6 Felony, Trespass as a Class A Misdemeanor
Pictured above: Some of the items recovered from the suspects apartment.
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
