Redmond man charged in dozens of car break-ins around C.O.

(Update: More from Prineville police on crimes in all 3 counties)

Prineville police offered new details Thursday in the charges against a Redmond man accused of vehicle break-ins and other crimes in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

Martin Hollowell, 53, was arraigned Tuesday in Crook County Circuit Court on several charges of theft, identity theft and breaking into vehicles. Prineville police said Thursday he currently faces 39 charges and is being held on $236,000 bail.

Hollowell is accused of going on a smash-and-grab crime binge in Jefferson and Crook counties in September, and more recently in the Redmond area.

Hollowell was arraigned by video on two separate cases in an incident occurred in September, according to court documents, Hollowell allegedly broke into several cars and stole computers, purses, debit cards and tried to commit fraud.

Investigators said they have surveillance video of Hollowell committing the crimes.

According to Crook County District Attorney Wade Whiting, Hollowell was released from the Jefferson County jail last week and committed another smash-and-grab crime on Oct. 31 in Crook County.

Hollowell allegedly took a purse, several electronics and withdrew $1,500 from the victim’s bank account.

Prineville police arrested Hollowell on suspicion of theft Monday and he was booked into the Crook County jail.

He’s expected to back in court on Nov. 14 for his arraignment.

Prineville police Capt. Larry Seymour said the city’s police began investigating a string of car break-ins on Sept. 14, including seven reports in the city and more in outlying areas. The crimes were linked to similar activity in Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

During the investigation, Hollowell was arrested on an unrelated charge and booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Madras, Seymour said. At that point, the car break-ins around Prineville slowed dramatically.

Hollowell was released on bail early the evening of Oct. 31, Seymour said. From late that evening through Nov. 2, Prineville police received six more vehicle break-in calls, an unusually high amount, and again police were able to link them to Hollowell.

On Monday, Hollowell’s car was spotted heading into Prineville. Police contacted him and arrested him in the September crime spree and seized his 2002 Saturn, Seymour said.

A search warrant was executed on the car on Wednesday and more evidence was found linking Hollowell to the Prineville crimes, as well as several car break-ins in Redmond. Seymour said area police are working together to investigate other criminal activity.

The charges against Hollowell include 13 counts of unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, 13 first-, second- and third-degree theft charges, six counts of second-degree criminal mischief, two counts each of ID theft and computer crime, a count of first-degree criminal mischief, felony possession of methamphetamine and a misdemeanor charge of possessing a restricted weapon.

Anyone with added information on the Prineville-area car break-ins is asked to contact Prineville Police at 541-447-4168, either of the case agents (Sgt. James Peterson and Officer Jordan Zamora) or private message the agency on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Prineville PD/.

The investigation closed 14 Prineville police cases and provided help investigating at least three Redmond cases, the captain said, thanking Redmond police for their assistance). Seymour said Prineville police also want to thank Peterson and Zamora “for spending countless hours investigating these crimes).