Man charged in string of Murdo burglaries

MURDO — An Indiana man has been charged in three third-degree burglaries in Murdo that occurred Friday.

Vence Allen, Goshen, Ind., appeared in Jones County Court on Tuesday and was charged with three Class 4 felonies for burglaries at the Star Family Restaurant, Murdo Car Wash and Murdo Family Foods. A woman saw Allen break down the door to the restaurant Friday and called the owners, Chris and Angie Venard. The sheriff was also alerted to the situation.

After executing a search warrant on Allen’s vehicle, Sheriff John Weber said law enforcement found property that linked him to all three burglaries in Murdo.

He was also charged with possession of burglary tools, including a flashlight and pry bars, which is a Class 6 felony.

“He was well-equipped, let’s put it that way,” Weber said.

Allen was also charged with false impersonation, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Allen gave a false name to law enforcement and later gave a different name to emergency medical technicians, Weber said.

Allen is being held in the Tripp County Jail at Winner on a $20,000 cash bond. He has a court date of June 14 in Jones County.

The investigation is still pending on Allen’s possible connection to burglaries in Aurora and Davison Counties, Weber said.

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