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NORTH SALT LAKE — Police have arrested a teen in connection with a home burglary caught by surveillance cameras, but investigators said Wednesday the other burglar captured in images remains at large and a valuable family heirloom is still missing.
Chief Craig Black said a tip from a KSL viewer led to the arrest of a 17-year-old boy from South Jordan.
“We’re grateful for viewers that recognize individuals and call these tips in,” Black said.
Black said detectives remain uncertain about the identity of the other burglar caught in surveillance images snapped outside the home of Matt and Lindsey Tirmenstein on Sept. 23.
The sequence of images, captured over five minutes, shows two burglars pulling up in the driveway in a white Pontiac Bonneville with Idaho plates, getting out and returning to the vehicle minutes later with various items, some packed into Matt Tirmenstein’s backpack.
The vehicle has been accounted for and belongs to a relative of the arrested teen, Black said.
Detectives believe the burglars may have been responsible for additional crimes elsewhere, Black said, and two police agencies from the Salt Lake Valley are now involved in the investigation.
“It doesn’t just solve our burglary,” he said. “It may solve other jurisdictions’ burglaries.”
It doesn't just solve our burglary. It may solve other jurisdictions' burglaries.
–Craig Black, North Salt Lake Police chief
The Tirmensteins said police had recovered Lindsey Tirmenstein's laptop, their kids’ LeapPad and a pair of Skullcandy headphones.
A valuable family heirloom belonging to Matt Tirmenstein’s great-great-great-grandmother — a Victorian Age lion’s head locket with rubies for the eyes, a diamond for the mouth and an inscription of the letter “M” on the back — has not been recovered, despite visits from police to several pawn shops.
“When I figured out that it was gone, I was pretty irate,” Tirmenstein said.
Still, the couple expressed optimism with the arrest that all of their stolen property would eventually be recovered.
“I guess making progress is great,” Tirmenstein said. “Maybe we will get all of our stuff back, which is really reassuring.”
Black said it was unlikely the burglars would have been able to sell the locket to a reputable dealer.
“They would recognize that piece of jewelry as being stolen and refuse to accept it,” he said. “I think it’s fairly difficult for them to find a place to dispose of that jewelry.”
Investigators Wednesday evening were still hoping the public would be able to return additional tips that would lead to the recovery of the locket and the arrest of the second man seen in the surveillance images.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call North Salt Lake police at 801-335-8655.
