EAGLE MOUNTAIN – Police say a man hired to install garage doors got his supplies by stealing garage doors from homes under construction.
The arrest of 35-year-old Justin Thomas Strasburg, listed as homeless on police documents, on Tuesday cleared eight recent cases, according to a police affidavit.
But detectives say Strasburg is also a suspect in cases in at least two other cities where garage doors have been stolen.
The Herriman police arrested Strasbourg on May 7th. Officials were called to suspicious activity in a new development area and found Strasbourg driving a Penske truck with invalid license plates, police affidavit said.
Strasburg told police “that he worked for a construction company that installs garage doors and components,” but later admitted “to officials that he no longer works for the company,” the affidavit said.
Investigators contacted Strasburg’s former employer and learned that he is responsible for approximately $ 20,000 in losses due to theft, according to an affidavit.
At the time of his arrest, Strasburg “had stolen garage door components valued at approximately US $ 1,500” and “admitted to being involved in a large number of thefts in Salt Lake and Utah counties. (He) admitted he stole a garage door from Pleasant Grove and a garage door opener from South Jordan, ”the affidavit reads.
According to police, he was also in possession of drug paraphernalia.
After being admitted to the Salt Lake County Jail and later released, a Utah County sheriff’s detective posed as a garage door buyer and made an appointment with Strasburg. On Tuesday he arranged to meet him at Eagle Mountain.
When Strasburg arrived in the area in a U-Haul truck, the detective pulled him past.
“I advised Justin to speak to him about the events in Herriman,” the MP wrote in the affidavit. “Fearing Justin would flee, I opened the driver’s door of the vehicle and asked him to get out to speak to me. At that point, Justin started the vehicle, put it in gear, and sped away from me. “
The MP pointed his gun at Strasbourg when he shifted into gear and ordered him to stop, but he drove on under oath. The deputy didn’t shoot.
A chase followed in Saratoga Springs, where Strasburg got out of the truck and allegedly ran, but was arrested a short time later by chasing officers.
“Speaking to Justin, he admitted that he was the suspect on eight separate cases involving the removal of garage doors, garage door openers, motors, and other garage door items at Eagle Mountain and Vineyard. Justin also admitted to stealing the garage door he was about to install from West Valley today, ”the affidavit reads.
On Wednesday afternoon in Strasburg, police affidavit said two more incidents of burglary were recorded on his prisons record after American Fork police linked him to two incidents. According to police, on April 30 and May 5, Strasbourg stole garage doors from houses built by the same company.
“When I spoke to the complainant, he said whoever opened the doors knew what they were doing. When I asked for an explanation, he explained to me that garage doors could really hurt someone if they didn’t know how to properly dismantle them. “
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