SE Bend theft-from-cars suspect caught in act

A southeast Bend resident caught a 20-year-old neighbor in the act of trying to get into his son’s parked car Friday morning, police said. The young man ran away, but officers tracked shoe prints to his nearby home, leading to his arrest and the recovery of stolen items from at least one other car.

Around 6:45 a.m., police were called to the 61000 block of Larkspur Loop on a report of suspicious activity, said Sgt. Todd Fletcher. The caller reported finding a man trying to get into his son’s car, who then ran away.

Officers found several shoe prints around cars in the area, indicating someone had tried to enter them at two addresses, Fletcher said.

One officer tracked the shoe prints to a home on the same street, where they contacted the suspect, identified as Nathan Charles Walker, 20. More evidence was obtained there, and he was arrested without incident.

Walker was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on two counts each of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree criminal mischief, and single counts of second- and third-degree theft. He was held on $26,000 bail and released Friday evening to a responsible third party, a jail officer said.,

Officers prepared and were granted a search warrant for the home, and the subsequent search turned up all of the stolen property, which was recovered and returned to the owners, Fletcher said.

The investigation continues, and Fletcher said there may be more victims. Anyone with information regarding the incidents was asked to contact Bend police through Deschutes County dispatchers at 541-693-6911.

Fletcher said the man who called police confirmed his son’s car was unlocked. The owner of a second car that had items taken from it said it was locked, but the sergeant said there were no signs of forced entry.

Items taken and recovered included “loose change, a pocket knife, sunglasses – he tried to get a stereo. Typical stuff,” Fletcher said,.

He reminded residents who park their vehicles outside at night to always keep them locked.