A man authorities say is responsible for a string of home burglaries in west Omaha has been arrested on a number of charges.
The investigation began July 27th when the Douglas County Sheriff's Office was called to a burglary near 165th and Ida. The suspect had thrown a yard statue through a window to enter the home.
Electronics, expensive jewelry and memorabilia were reported stolen. The sheriff's office was then called to investigate a criminal trespass on HWS Cleveland Blvd on Aug. 2 when a home security system alerted the homeowner.
The camera observed a man looking through backyard windows of the home. A witness confronted the suspect who was hiding on his front porch. That suspect signaled to other suspects and left in a Gold Mercury Mountaineer.
During the same time, the Omaha Police Department received several reports of home burglaries following a similar pattern. Witness and video evidence depicted a similar car and suspects breaking into homes. Several neighbors gave police security video of the three suspects looking into windows and running through yards.
On Aug. 3, Omaha Police stopped a Mountaineer near 106th and Birch Plz. Yannick Smith, who was driving on suspension, was behind the wheel of the Mountaineer that matched pictures and descriptions.
Smith was taken to the Sheriff's office. While being searched, police found a $2,000 silver, cross pendant in his pockets which belonged to the victim of the July 27 report. Smith was also wearing a stolen Gold Bulova from a West Omaha burglary.
A search of the Mountaineer led to the recovery of several pieces of jewelry from a burglary. A search warrant of a residence found electronics and other stolen property. Smith was booked on charges of receiving stolen property, criminal trespass and driving under suspension.