KSP working to return property taken in rash of house burglaries to rightful owners

 Kentucky State Police are asking for the public’s help as it searches for the owners of stolen items recovered following the arrests of two North Carolina residents in connection with a string of home burglaries.

Trooper Lloyd Cochran, public affairs officer at Post 11 in London, said troopers believe thirty-five-year-old Joshua Penland and 21-year-old Brittany Warren may have been responsible for even more burglaries that initially believed.

Cochran did not have an estimate of the number of burglaries, but said the first ones date back to early November in the Williamsburg area.

In an effort to determine what, if any other, local burglaries the duo may have been involved with, Cochran said residents are encouraged to determine if any items, especially jewelry or electronics may be missing from their residence.

“We still have a lot of that evidence left and we are trying to find out where it was taken from,” Cochran said.

Individuals who believe items are missing, are asked to contact state police at 878-6622.

Troopers will take the description and compare it with items they have in evidence. If any of it matches the description, arrangements will be made for troopers to meet with the resident in an effort to return the items to the rightful owners.

“Serial numbers or pictures would be great to help prove ownership,” Cochran said.

Cochran said Penland remains in the Whitley County Detention Center on charges of second-degree burglary and receiving stolen property.

Warren, who is facing similar charges, has been returned to Virginia on unspecified charges. Cochran said she will be returned to Kentucky after that case had been adjudicated to answer to these charges.

The duo was arrested Nov. 19 after an investigation that began when they were seen at Tattersall Trails Estates acting suspiciously.

Whitley County Constable Ron “Bubba” Bowling said he observed Penland let Warren out of a car near the subdivision where she began knocking on doors.

“If someone was in the yard or something, or they came to the door, she would act like she was looking for her lost dog,” Bowling said previously. “I observed her for over an hour doing this.”

“It’s the perfect scam,” Bowling added. “They come around when they know people are working to see if they are home. If no one comes to the door, they will check to see if it’s locked. You wouldn’t believe how many times people will leave their doors unlocked.”

Bowling said he alerted other local officers with Kentucky State Police, the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department and Corbin Police Department about the suspicious activity. He said authorities noticed that Penland had been waiting at the Circle K store at the corner of Fifth Street Road and Cumberland Falls Hwy. the entire time Warren was in the neighborhood. When he left the store, police pulled him over at a nearby car wash. Bowling said the two had been communicating by text over cell phones. When he lost communication after Warren was detained by police, he tried to leave the area.

Penland was stopped and arrested on Falls Hwy.

Authorities impounded the vehicle. Bowling said it was “packed from front to back” with random items (i.e. jewelry, electronics, etc.) Police suspected much of it was stolen. After obtaining a search warrant, authorities were able to confirm many of the items in the car were stolen and charged the two with burglary.

Troopers Les Moses and David Lassiter are continuing the investigation.