Posted at: 12/21/2009 12:27 PM | KSAX.com
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Public's Help Puts Serial Burglars Behind Bars in Morrison County

MORRISON CO., Minn - After receiving strong tips from citizens, the Morrison County Sheriff's Department arrested two serial burglars who had hit up at least four business in the Swanville, Upsala, and Bowlus areas.  Investigators now believe the men were also connected to more burglaries in Stearns County. 

The men arrested are 24-year-old Mark Volkmuth and 20-year-old Jacob Grammentz of St. Cloud.

On Dec. 15th, Sheriff Michel Wetzel said that on Dec. 15th, those tips led to the execution of a search warrant at the residence Volkmuth and Grammentz in St. Cloud.

Stolen items from those businesses were found as a result of the search warrant, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office.  Investigators found other stolen items that link the men to other burglaries in Stearns County.

DVD players, camera's and power tools were all taken from the four Morrison County businesses in late November.  Businesses hit were Jennie-O Turkey store, Michael's Trucking, Leading Edge Cabinets and Bowlus Feed store. 

Since all the break-ins happened in the same area, Wetzel believed all along that serial burglars were responsible for the crimes.

"When you have something like this in such close proximity and it involves similar businesses it's very likely that this was done by the same person or people," Wetzel said.

According to Wetzel, businesses are easy targets because no one is usually there at night, but there are things you can do to make your business more secure.

"Businesses should make sure alarms are armed and that they don't leave expensive things inside overnight if they don't have to," said Wetzel.

Volkmuth and Grammentz are being held at the Morrison County jail, awaiting formal charges.

Written for the Web by Anthony Kiekow and Cristi Jessee.

akiekow@ksax.com

cjessee@ksax.com