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Gene Kennedy Reporting A thief on the prowl gets caught in the act. Sheriff's deputies say one person played a crucial role in his capture.
This began with a man who lives in Holladay, who was simply on the lookout.
There's not a lot of traffic on this citizen's street. So when he saw a car pull into the neighborhood late last night, he didn't feel he should ignore it.
Lt. Chris Bertram / Salt Lake Co. Sheriff's Office: "He just began to watch for suspicious activity. He saw this guy get out of his car and start to go car to car in the neighborhood, checking to see if they were unlocked or there was any property in the car."
That citizen got a good description of the suspect and his car and called police.
Just as deputies arrived to investigate, they say Eric Lanier was driving away, heading down 4500 South. Deputies say he tried to hide in an apartment complex in Murray, but police caught him.
They're certain he's been involved in two vehicle burglaries, and detectives say there may be more.
Lanier is back in jail. Police say it's not the first time for him. He's currently on parole. With these new charges he'll likely head back to prison, if convicted.
The victims in these car break-ins will get most, if not all, of their belongings back.
Deputies are warning the public to not leave valuables exposed in the car, even if the car is in your driveway or carport. Police say this suspect was so bold as to go into peoples' driveways and carports. Some will stop at nothing to get what they want, and luckily there wasn't a physical confrontation in this instance.
