Bend man arrested in thefts from 11 unlocked cars

A 23-year-old Bend man was arrested early Friday as police recovered a wide variety of items stolen from nearly a dozen unlocked cars on the city’s east side over the past three months, officers said Saturday.

Police arrested Taylor Steven Connelly around 2:15 a.m. Friday at his home in the 300 block of Southeast Airpark Drive, said Lt. Nick Parker.

Officers found numerous stolen items at the home, including jewelry, knives, cameras, cellphones, iPods, sunglasses, bags and gift cards, Parker said.

Connelly was found in possession of methamphetamine, as well as a switchblade knife, which he is not allowed to have as a convicted felon, police said. He was taken to the Deschutes County Jail and held without bail on the parole violation, also facing 25 new charges, including a dozen counts of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, eight counts of second-degree theft, three counts of third-degree theft and meth possession.

Parker said officers have determined so far that Connelly illegally entered a dozen vehicles over the past three months and stole items from 11 victims.

“The victim vehicles were all believed to have been unlocked at the time of theft,” Parker said in a news release.

The thefts occurred on Hidenwood Place, Capella Place, soft Trail Loop, Azalia Avenue, Copperfield Avenue, Lotus Drive, Mary Rose Place, Quail Run Place, Watt Way, Airpark Drive and Brookstone Lane.

It’s not the first such accusations against Connelly. Back in October 2014, a crime victim saw a cyclist wearing his stolen winter jacket and called police, leading to the arrest of the then-21-year-old on accusations he entered at least 10 cars and stole items over the previous two weeks.

The theft investigation is continuing, Parker said, and officers continue to find victims and connect Connelly to more such thefts. Anyone with information related to the thefts is asked to contact Bend police at 541-693-6911.

Already this year, the city has taken over 350 reports of vehicles illegally entered, Parker said.

“The Bend Police Department would like to remind the community to remove valuables from vehicles, secure and lock vehicles, and report crimes,” he said.

“Unfortunately, not all crimes are reported to the police,” Parker added said. “It is common for officers to recover stolen property during theft investigations and are unable to connect the property to a reported case.”