Smyrna times., 1956-11-22
SMYRNA SHOPS
5 BURGLARIZED
Virginia Man Apprehended
at Dover Few Hours Af-
ter Burglaries Reported
LOOT VALUED AT S3125

The fast work of the state po-
lice, and the Smyrna and Dover
town police resulted in a quick
solution to the two daring burg
laries in Smyrna early Tuesday
morning, with the arrest of a
suspect at the Dover Bus term
inal a few hours after the burg
laries were discovered. Stoney
Lee Brooks, Is, of Portsmouth,
Va, had in his possession at the
time of his arrest articles valued
at $3125 in a stolen duffle bag.
He had formerly worked on the
farm of Frank Ryan, near Smyr-
ma, had returned to Portsmouth
about a month ago, but returned
last Saturday night to see his
girl friend, according to his story
to the police. The quick arrest
came as a result also of the ac-
tion of Alan Moffitt, taxi driver.
The man was committed to Kent
County Correctional Institution by
Magistrate Frank Fleming, Clay
ton in default of $4,000 bond to
await trial. Brooks is accused of
breaking into Sayers Jewelry
Store and the Smyrna Sporting
Goods Store, Walter Handsberry,
proprietor, between 2:35 am. and
am. Entry to Sayers was
gained by removing a pane of
glass from the front door and
sliding the bolt at the top of the
door with a broken rake handle
which had been taken from the
yard of AL Guarro. Mr.. Sayers
estimated his loss at $4,000, in
Guiding rings, 80 watches, and
other articles. The sporting goods
store had been entered by break
ing side window. The place was
burglarized of two revolvers, a
blank cartridge pistol, 8 or 4
hunting knives, a carryall bag,
s..,1 fishing reel. The cash regis
ter was carried to the lot of the
A&P Market where it was brok-
en- open and $25 removed. The
Smyrna police had checked Say
er's, leaving note to that eff
feet at 2:30 am. and had also
checked Handsberry's leaving a
note about 2:45 am. The discov-
cry of the thefts came early due
to the fact that George Melvin
discovered his oil burner not
working about 4:30 am, and call
ed James Everhart, owner of the
house who came to fix it. Mr..
Everhart discovered the front
door of Sayers open and notified
Mr.. Sayers. Gene Handsberry had
gone to the store about $50 am.
to get a gun for duck hunting,
and so discovered the burglary
there. The state police investiga-
tor, therefore, was early on the
scene and as part of his inves-
tigation he notified Alan Moffitt,
taxi operator to notify them if
he had a customer who seemed
in a hurry to get away from
Smyrna. AS the investigator ar
rived at the Dover Bus Terminal
after Dover police became sus-
picious of three men there, he
found Moffitt and his cab there
and was told that he had just
brought a man from Smyrna and
he had gone inside to buy tick
ct, leaving his jacket in the cab.
Moffitt arranged to go into the
terminal and to hand the GUS
toner his jacket as a means for
the police to identify him in case
he could be considered a suspect. |
The state police officer noticed !
that one of his bags correspond
ed to the description of the bag
taken at Handsberry's, and di-
rected the suspect to open it, and
it was found to contain all of the
Smyrna loot. The police and the
investigator are being congratu-
lated for the speed with which
the daring burglaries were solved.