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TAYLORSVILLE — Family members and police on Sunday were hoping somebody could identify a man caught by surveillance cameras trying to kick in the door of a home and stealing several tools from sheds in a fenced-off backyard.
Erica Walker said it happened at her family's home just before 8:00 p.m. Friday, when surveillance video shared with KSL-TV showed a pickup truck backing up into the carport.
A stranger then gets out of the truck and moves to the back fence.
"(He) broke through the fence, falling in the process into the backyard," Walker said. "There's two sheds, and he went into both of them looking for things to steal."
According to Walker, the unknown man stole tools with sentimental value that once belonged to her grandfather.
She said he also tried to steal the lawnmower but was unsuccessful in getting it through the fence.
Before the man took off, another camera captured him trying unsuccessfully to kick through a side door.
Someone was home at the time of the attempted break-in to the main house, Walker said.
"It's terrifying and it's violating," she said. "You can imagine how you would feel if you're being in your home, which is supposed to be your sanctuary and safe place, and then all of a sudden, you hear the sound of somebody aggressively trying to break down your door."
Walker said she was uncertain of the man's motives.
Taylorsville Police Sgt. Ryan Carver said detectives had yet to identify the man.
He said based on what was captured by cameras, it was likely the man had done something similar before, and he said the department had sent out the family's pictures and videos to other departments to see if any police recognized him.
Carver urged anyone with information to contact Taylorsville police via dispatch at 801-840-4000.
Walker said the family was offering an undisclosed reward for anyone who can identify the man and provide information leading to an arrest.
"We just don't want this to happen to anyone else," Carver said. "Obviously, we would like our own justice and for him to be arrested."
