Ok. I am no crime fighter. And after last week, my respect for law enforcement went up a notch. If you haven't heard my photographer, Ben and I foiled a burglary. Want the details? Sure you do!
Thursday, the owner of former "Sister Gooch Restaurant" in Huntsville called to say that someone had stolen over $300,000 worth of equipment, furniture, silverware, etc from inside the closed business. She was desperate for help and wanted information on anybody who may have been seen around the area. She even went as far as sleeping in her car outside to try and catch the theives. We went inside with her, did an interview, shot video. We were there for over an hour. When we were finished, we loaded our gear and pulled around back. We see a beat up old van pulled in backwards and a door (the only one with a broken lock) standing wide open. We asked three men standing there what they were doing. One said he had been told to come by and pick up some equipment. We knew that was a lie considering not much was left inside (we think they came back to strip the expensive light fixtures and iron railings). The owner starts crying hysterically and asks Ben to call 911. She is so distraught she can't speak. Ben takes the phone and tells the dispather what is going on. One of the suspects comes to the door of our vehicle and tries to tell me his story (while blocking my door). I got out and started questioning what he was saying. Ben gets a license plate number and gives the dispatcher a description of the van and the suspects. We pinned them in with our vehicle but they manage to pull out around us. The owner and I stand in front of the van. One of the suspects starts walking off. Ben goes around the front of the store to try and stop him (all the while staying on the phone with 911). I call an investigator to tell him what is happening. While I am talking to him and trying to console the owner, a second suspect tries to get away. I told the driver of the van to put his hands on the steering wheel where I could see them. Left the owner there with him and took off running after the suspect in blue (that we lovingly labled "Pookie.") When I get around the corner, a Huntsville Police Investigator gets out of the car, draws his gun and puts the suspect down on the ground. He arrests the driver, puts him in handcuffs and gets him to the ground. The investigator I was on the telephone with goes after the 3rd suspect, finds him in the woods near a pre-school, draws his gun and makes an arrest.
Ironiaclly, Investigators found the stolen restaurant equipment at a warehouse on Oakwood Avenue and were able to return most of it to the owners. In the end, we kept 3 crooks from running away and helped solve a big burglary ring. It was pretty cool!
If you want to read or see video log on to our website at www.waff.com. Enjoy!
This is a promo about the burglary bust running on our station this week.
Have a good one!
