Pine Township resident reports burglary
The Porter County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Pine Township burglary in which three laptops, an Xbox game system and a pistol were taken.
Police were called around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to a residence in the 600 block of East Railroad Avenue, where a resident said she had left the house around 7:45 a.m. while another relative was in the shower.
When she returned home at 3:15 p.m., the front door was unlocked and the back door was open, and she noticed most of the bedrooms had been rummaged through. A door in the house to the attached garage was open, as well as an exterior garage door.
She told police three laptops from the kitchen, family room and living room were stolen.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry. The Xbox was stolen from a bedroom, and a Berretta Storm .40 caliber pistol was taken from a dresser drawer in another bedroom.
Police estimate the stolen goods had a value of $1,740.
Motorcycle theft leads to drug arrest
Portage police arrested a Gary woman on drug charges and issued a warrant for the arrest of a Portage man on a felony charge of auto theft, as well as misdemeanor counts including resisting law enforcement, driving while suspended and false informing Wednesday after responding to a complaint about a motorcycle being driven recklessly.
Police responded at 12:30 p.m. to the 5600 block of Evergreen Avenue to a call about a speeding motorcycle. Police spoke with the driver, later identified as Kenneth Wilder, 43, of the 2200 block of Garfield, who initially told police his name was Kenneth Davis and that he was test driving the motorcycle.
While police went to contact dispatch about the motorcycle’s registration, Wilder allegedly fled the area on foot. Police set up a perimeter in the area and brought in a K-9, but were not able to locate Wilder.
Police learned the motorcycle was reported stolen in Schererville. Police issued a warrant for Wilder’s arrest.
During the course of their investigation, police arrested Yolanda Thigpen-Hilton, 40, of the 900 block of Stevenson in Gary, on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and false informing.
Police said they saw marijuana seeds and stems in her car while speaking with her about Wilder, as well as a burned marijuana blunt. During a search of her car, police reportedly found two marijuana grinders.
Thigpen-Hilton initially denied knowing Wilder, then late admitted she knew him through work, according to police. She was transported to Porter County Jail, where officers later found a bag of marijuana in her sock.
— Amy Lavalley
