Police make progress in car burglaries case

Hillsboro police believe that a Newton suspect could be responsible for a recent spate of 33 vehicle burglaries in which more than $464 in loose change, cash, and personal items was stolen from 16 vehicles.

“We believe it is out of Newton,” chief Dan Kinning said. “Harvey County sheriff made an arrest in an unrelated case in which the person was in the suspect vehicle [from the Hillsboro burglaries case].”

He said Harvey County arrested a man for driving without a valid driver’s license.

However, no arrest has been made in the Hillsboro case yet. Hillsboro police have gathered circumstantial and other evidence, that could presumably link a suspect to the Hillsboro burglaries still needs to be tested in a lab, Kinning said.

Hillsboro police also assisted Newton police March 21 with an investigation involving a recent string of car burglaries there that Kinning said potentially coincide with the Hillsboro burglaries.

“It’s in the same time frame,” he said. “The night after the Hillsboro burglaries quit is when the Newton string started.”

The Newton burglaries started March 19, the same night Hillsboro police were performing a saturation patrol to prevent further burglaries.