A joint operation between the Chattanooga Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing and Property Crime teams led to the clearance of 14 cases with one arrest.
Last week the Chattanooga Police Department began investigating 10 separate reports of auto burglaries occurring within a 24-hour period in the Hixson, Stuart Heights, and North Shore areas.
Officers were tasked with finding creative ways to catch these suspects. Officers began searching automated enforcement records for a license plate stolen from a citizen’s vehicle. A traffic camera on Norcross Road captured a picture of a distinctive Honda with the stolen tag and on Thursday night Officer Jarrod Justice spotted this car. While turning around to verify the tag, the car sped off.
There was no pursuit, but the car - later verified as stolen - was quickly found wrecked in the 700 block of Dallas Road. Both subjects in the vehicle fled on foot and both were apprehended. The driver was identified as Daniel Morgan and the passenger, Holly Smith.
Holly Smith was charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
Daniel Morgan refused to talk with police and was arrested for theft over 10,000, evading arrest, and drug charges.
Additional evidence was located at 101 E. 20th St Chatt Inn. The eviedence located in the vehicle and at 101 E. 20th St Chatt Inn cleared the auto burglaries and recovered property from each case. Additionally, Morgan was arrested for 14 counts of auto burglary and 14 counts of theft.
Cleared Cases:
- 01/03/16 - 508 BECK AVE
- 01/05/16 - 1315 LAWRENCE RD
- 01/05/16 - 1012 ALBANY ST
- 01/05/16 - 810 MISSISSIPPI AVE
- 01/05/16 - 1018 ALBANY ST
- 01/06/16 - 915 CALERNDON DR
- 01/06/16 - 1117 LIBERTY ST
- 01/06/16 - 1314 WORTHINGTON ST
- 01/06/16 - 1030 DARMOUTH ST
- 01/06/16 - 501 FORREST AVE
- 01/06/16 - 518 E, MANNING ST
- 01/06/16 - 1302 WORTHINGTON ST
- 01/06/16 - 2017 STONE CHASE DR
- 01/06/16 - 7302 ELAINE CIRCLE
According to investigators the suspect would travel through residential neighborhoods checking only for unlocked doors to commit his crimes, while passing locked vehicles. We are encouraging residents in all neighborhoods to keep their vehicle locked and to refrain from leaving any items in sight.