By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Jeremiah Eugene Smith

PIERCETON — A Pierceton man was recently arrested for his involvement in two burglaries which occurred in October 2019.

Jeremiah Eugene Smith, 36, 8280 E. US 30 Lot 24, Pierceton, is charged with two counts of burglary, both level 4 felonies; and two counts of theft, both level 6 felonies.

On Oct. 14, 2019, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office received two reports of residential burglaries which occurred within three miles of each other.

According to court documents, a woman noticed signs of forced entry to her home and contacted law enforcement. Items stolen from her home included multiple televisions, DVDs, a Nintendo Wii video gaming console, firearms, tools, and household items. The value of the items stolen exceeded $750. A man whose baseball cards were stolen during this incident reported seeing the cards being sold on eBay by a Fort Wayne company. The company identified the person who sold them the cards as Smith.

A second homeowner reported a burglary in which the suspect kicked in the side door to his residence. Items stolen included six firearms, firearm accessories, and identifying information. The value of the items stolen in this burglary also exceeded $750.

On Dec. 11, 2019, a KCSO detective interviewed Smith while he was in custody at the Allen County Jail. Smith said he purchased baseball cards and a 55-inch television from a friend. He gave the detective permission to go to a relative’s home and retrieve the television.

The television was found, as well as a laptop computer, PlayStation 2 video game console, video games, and a Roku streaming device stolen from one of the burglaries.

The detective also found several items stolen in the burglaries posted online.

On Jan. 14, 2020, KCSO detectives interviewed Smith again, who admitted he and two other individuals broke into two houses in Kosciusko County on Oct. 14, 2019.

Smith was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on March 14, 2023, with a $6,000 surety and cash bond.