NewsCrime

Actions

PD: Serial burglars caught after Scottsdale jewelry heist

PD: Serial burglars caught after Scottsdale jewelry heist
Posted at 12:37 PM, Jun 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-29 16:40:52-04

Two Valley men are accused of burglarizing up to 20 homes across Arizona over the course of a month.

Scottsdale police report that on June 21 Andrew Scott Capel, 20, and Nathan Lee Kellum, 24, were arrested in Phoenix after burglarizing a home in Tempe while under surveillance by detectives.

Scottsdale police say a home near 64th Street and Scottsdale Road was burglarized on April 17 and the two suspects stole nearly $45,000 in jewelry.

A neighbor provided the police with a video showing a silver pickup truck parked near the RV gate of the home at the time the theft took place, court paperwork said.

Other neighbors told police that two men were seen in the neighborhood contacting homeowners and trying to sell them alarm systems. Cappel left a business card with one of the residents.

Phoenix and Paradise Valley police had reportedly identified Cappel and Kellum as the men they believed are responsible for several other similar burglaries.

Detectives located the suspects and followed the pair to Tempe where they allegedly witnessed the men burglarizing a home. They were arrested later that day in Phoenix. 

Police say Kellum and Cappel each estimated that they commit 10-20 burglaries a month, throughout the Valley. 

Cappel is being held without bond and is scheduled to be sentenced Monday for domestic violence.

Kellum, who police consider "a prolific residential burglar" is being held on a $50,000 bond on burglary charges.