Share Email 12 Shares

Burlington Police are searching for a Colchester man suspected in a string of larcenies from motor vehicles, largely in the city’s South End.



Shane Morrill, 32, is wanted on more than 50 counts — ranging from burglary to credit card fraud to eluding police.



Burglary suspect Shane Morrill.

Burlington Police say the crimes, which occurred over the past several months, all have a consistent pattern. They allege Morrill targets cars, gaining access either by finding an unlocked door, or more often, by breaking a window. Valuable items are then taken from the car, typically wallets, credit cards, money and electronics, according to a statement by the police.



Get all of VTDigger's daily news. You'll never miss a story with our daily headlines in your inbox.

Police say victims’ vehicles appear to be targeted based on the visible contents available inside. When debit or credit cards are stolen, they tend to be quickly used to purchase several hundred dollars worth of merchandise, according to the release.



A number of the incidents have occurred in the vicinity of Oakledge Park, according to police, including Central Avenue and Red Rocks Park in South Burlington — though they note that the crimes have spread throughout the greater Chittenden County area.



Morrill has an extensive history of contacts with law enforcement. Burlington Police report more than 60 interactions with him in the last nine months, including 11 failures to appear at court, 13 felony charges with three convictions, 59 misdemeanor charges with 32 convictions, four assaultive crimes charges with three convictions and three escape charges.



Police encouraged residents to minimize their likelihood of having property stolen by locking their vehicles, storing their keys in safe places, and ensuring that money and other valuables are not left in cars, especially visibly.

Law enforcement asked anyone with relevant information to call the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.



Share Email 12 Shares