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Sam Penrod Reporting Orem police have nabbed a purse thief, who they say was breaking into cars in parking lots. Police got help from an auto parts store, where employees recognized the suspect when he tried using a stolen credit card.
Forty-nine-year old James Karrick was arrested after he confessed to stealing purses from parking lots at churches, convenient stores, restaurants and hospitals. Police say even though he was brazen in committing the crimes in the middle of the day, there is a lot we can do to protect ourselves from even brazen crooks.
Lt. Doug Edwards, Orem Police: "Don't leave valuables in plain sight, don't leave a purse or iPod sitting on a seat or a CD case with 500 CD's sitting on the floor. There are people willing to take the risk to take that 30 seconds and break the window and go in and get it."
Police believe Karrick is responsible for at least nine break-ins in Orem in recent weeks. He is also suspected of similar thefts all over Utah County.
Karrick is in the Utah County jail on charges of theft, credit card fraud and auto burglary.
