FOUR ARRESTED IN CARROLL CO. HVAC UNIT THEFT RING

(Westminster, MD) – The work of an alert Maryland state trooper who interrupted a theft team early this morning ultimately resulted in the arrests of four people who troopers believe are responsible for multiple thefts of heating and air conditioning units from businesses and homes in Carroll County.

The suspects are identified as Keith A. Gibson, 28, of the 1500-block of Bollinger Road, Westminster, Md., Justin T. Kinzer, 29, of the 1500-block of Uniontown Road, Westminster, John J. Poutre III, 28, and Amber L. Brown, both of the 100-block of South Center St., Westminster. All are charged with theft between $10,000 and $100,000, attempted theft between $10,000 and $100,000, attempted theft between $1,000 and $10,000, malicious destruction of property greater than $500, conspiracy to commit theft between $10,000 and $100,000, and fourth degree burglary. Additional charges are pending. All four were taken late today to the Carroll County Central Booking Center where they will have an initial appearance before a court commissioner later tonight.

Since early spring of this year, members of the Maryland State Police and allied law enforcement have taken numerous reports about outdoor heating and air conditioning units being stolen. Thieves were reportedly cutting the unit’s lines to the home or business and removing the entire unit from the premises. Troopers at the Westminster Barrack had been on the lookout for persons responsible for these thefts. The thefts had increased in recent weeks.

Shortly after 12:00 a.m. today, a K-9 trooper from the Westminster Barrack was on his way to conduct a patrol check on the 900-block of Washington Road, where the lines had been cut to several HVAC units, but they had not yet been removed. He saw a Dodge pickup truck with a trailer in the area. As he pulled into the lot on Washington Road, he saw a Saturn car pull from the adjacent parking lot. The trooper attempted to pursue the Saturn, but then saw the same pickup truck pass the location.

The trooper stopped the pickup truck and found Gibson and Kinzer inside. Gibson initially gave a false name. As a result of further investigation, the trooper had both Gibson and Kinzer taken to the Westminster Barrack for questioning.

Through further investigation, troopers from the Westminster Barrack Criminal Investigation Section identified Poutre and Brown. They were arrested about noon today at their residence as troopers served a search warrant. Brown was found to have a Saturn that is registered to her father.

The investigation at this time indicates Poutre and Brown would locate units to steal and cut the lines connecting them to the buildings or houses. Gibson and Kinzer would use the truck and trailer to pick up the units and transport them to Gibson’s home where they were disassembled. The team would then sell the retrieved copper, aluminum and steel as scrap at a recycling yard. Troopers found some of the materials sold by the team at a local scrap yard in Carroll County today.

Troopers believe the team was attempting to steal five HVAC units from the Hunter Professional Center last night when they were intercepted. Troopers also believe evidence indicates the team stole four HVAC units from a doctor’s office in the 700-block of Poole Road on September 17, 2010. That same night, they attempted to steal five other HVAC units from two other nearby offices.

Investigators are reviewing all their reports concerning similar thefts and have notified the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and Westminster City Police concerning the arrests. As the investigation continues, State Police investigators will be consulting with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office regarding additional charges.