Austin man, 73, sets up camera and catches burglar

By Mike Rose | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Friday, August 14, 2009

A warrant was issued Tuesday for an Albert Lea woman suspected of burglarizing an Austin home on multiple occasions.

Susan Lynn Johnston, 41, faces three felony counts of second-degree burglary and one felony count of theft.

According to a court complaint, Johnston broke into a home on the 1200 block of 12th Drive Southwest at least three times, the first being in early July, and the last two coming July 12 and 13 — both of which were caught on camera.

The 73-year-old man who lives at the home told police that he set up a motion-sensitive camera in a tree near his front door.

The camera caught a woman wearing what appeared to be a white DirecTV shirt enter the house the last two dates and leave with various items.

The man claimed among his missing possessions were a paint sprayer, valued at $600 to $700, and $1,250 in cash.

He said the burglar broke a window on his front door to gain access the first time. Subsequent entries were made by removing plywood that covered the broken window, the man said. He was not home at these times.

Officer Kevin Sederquest of the Austin Police Department went to Direct Communications in Austin to see if any employees recognized the woman due to her shirt.

One employee was able to identify her as Johnston.

Detective Brian Krueger contacted Johnston’s husband on July 15 and learned she lived in Albert Lea.

The next day Krueger went to the house on 890th Avenue and spoke with Johnston’s daughter, who said her mother had just left.

Krueger left contact information and said it was important he reach Johnston.

That occurred July 20 when Johnston called Krueger and volunteered to come in.

A few days later, Johnston met with the detective. She admitted to entering the house and stealing items, saying what she did was “wrong” and “stupid.”

Johnston said she had canoed near the house on several occasions in the past and thought that it was abandoned, which is why she said she attempted the burglary.

On July 23, Johnston returned a number of household items she had taken, including a vacuum, a wrench set, a few flashlights and a cooler.

She said she had not seen $1,250 in cash while in the home.

She also said she didn’t recall seeing a second cooler that had been reported missing.

The man later said a golden bar and silver bar were gone, though he had not previously indicated them missing.

Johnston said she didn’t know anything about the missing bars.

She did return a box for the paint sprayer but said it was empty when she took it, and she had not seen the item in the house.

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