Police: Suspect arrested for 30 thefts, burglaries in 2 counties

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says they believe an arrest they made Tuesday solves numerous burglary and theft cases across not only Hamilton County, but other central Indiana areas as well.

Police said they are not sure how many cases the arrest brings to a close, but they believe the suspect may be responsible for as many as 30 thefts and burglaries.

Detective said they were sent to a home in the 19600 block of Grassy Branch Road after reports of a burglary. When they arrived, they found a window was broken on a detached garage on the east side of the building, and the garage had been ransacked. Police later realized a red Honda ATV was stolen.

Police said during their investigation, they found a wallet containing a male’s ID, Patrick Miller, 29 of Arcadia. The home also had surveillance cameras around the home that helped deputies identify him as the burglary suspect.

Further investigation led police to the step-father of Miller, Joe Robbins. Robbins told police Miller was staying in the barn on his property. He told police when his wife took him food, she found him sitting on the ATV with a lot of other items that were not supposed to be in the barn.

Police said Robbins told them Miller was not paying rent and was not allowed in the home, which is why he slept in their barn.

When police searched around the barn, they found him in a field on the south side of the barn. Police told Miller they had his wallet and brought up the burglary incident. Miller responded and said, “When I saw all the cameras around that house I knew I was in trouble.”

Miller was arrested and transported to the Madison County Jail. Shortly after he was interviewed by detectives, Miller admitted to breaking in the garage and taking the ATV and several other items from the garage. He said the burglary happened on July 4, just before it got dark.

Miller said he did not know the people who lived at the address and did the act alone. He said his intent was to sell the items to support his drug addiction.

The items he said he stole from the home include:

• The ATV
• A chainsaw
• Air compressor
• Tools

Police believe some of the other items they found in the barn could have been stolen within the past couple of months around Hamilton and Madison Counties. Police believe he has committed thefts and burglaries in Westfield, Noblesville, Hamilton County, Anderson, and Madison County, as well as other locations.

Miller faces charges that include burglary, motor vehicle theft, theft of a firearm, and theft. His bond is set at $50,000.