Burglar dropped notebook that tied him to another break-in, police say

Nashville police arrested a burglary suspect who allegedly dropped a notebook during a break-in linking him to another house that was also burglarized that same day.

Robert Shull Goddard, 49, allegedly broke into a house in the Hillwood neighborhood on Jan. 29 by smashing the glass on the back door, then stole “multiple items including a television and firearm,” according to court records filed in Davidson County court.

But, as authorities describe it, Goddard left something behind too.

Prosecutors say in court records Goddard dropped a notebook during the burglary that listed multiple addresses in it. One of those addresses was for another home a few miles away that had been burglarized that same day. The notebook also contained clues to the burglar's identity — notes from his daughter and her address.

Goddard was also caught on video kicking in the back door of a third house the following day, court records state.

Goddard was arrested last Tuesday and is currently held in Davidson County jail on at $15,000 bond for felony burglary and theft charges. Goddard has not yet entered an initial plea in his case and is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.

Brett Kelman is the health care reporter for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 615-259-8287 or at brett.kelman@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter at @brettkelman.