Alert security officer helps Eugene police arrest burglary suspect
EUGENE, Ore. Nov 7 2017 – Approximately 300 keys were stolen from the Lithia Dodge car dealership in a burglary on November 5, where a new 2018 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4×4 truck was taken.
Eugene Police Officers later identified the suspect as Aaron Alan Harney, 28, of Eugene.
At approximately 6:53 a.m. on Monday, November 6, an area security guard in downtown Eugene called in a suspicious vehicle found inside a parking garage.
Officers responded and located the 2018 Dodge 2500 truck, and arrested Harney without incident on charges of Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, Burglary in the Second Degree and Aggravated Theft in the First Degree.
In addition to the truck, officers recovered a large number of keys and evidence in the case.
The estimated value of the stolen keys exceeded $70,000, and the stolen truck was valued at over $55,000.
A salesman at the dealership reported that a week prior to the theft, a suspicious male, later identified as Harney, had attempted to have the dealership make some new keys for a few new cars. The dealership denied the request and the suspect left the area.
The alert salesman took a photograph of the suspect, which later proved crucial to the identification and arrest of Harney.
