K-9 helps catch suspects in tire-snatching theft

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By Valryn Warren, Staff Writer 3:21 PM Thursday, April 2, 2009

HUBER HEIGHTS — With the help of a K-9 officer, Dragon, police apprehended two suspects accused of stealing tires and wheels off semis at the Kenworth of Dayton truck center near Interstate 70.

Huber Heights police Sgt. Charles Taylor said there may be more suspects than the two caught at the scene.

“They are not from the area, and we believe they may be part of an bigger ring,” he said. “The investigation is ongoing.”

Tire and wheel theft is believed to be on the increase nationally, and large or expensive sets are particularly attractive. Spare tires on certain models of vehicles also are often targeted. The thefts can be difficult to prove and trace. “We’ve had similar incidents in years past,” Taylor said. “Their business is right off the highway and very visible.”

Taylor said police were called to 7740 Center Pointe Blvd. around 11:23 p.m. March 22 by a custodian who spotted what he thought were men on the property. They found semis up on bricks with the lug nuts removed from the wheels. The suspects are believed to have come in a full-sized box truck.

The subjects fled on foot to a neighboring business property, Aida Corporation, hiding in the dark and ignoring repeated warnings to come out.

But it’s harder to hide from a dog’s nose — so Dragon was sent, and quickly sniffed them out. Dragon apprehended one suspect while an officer got the other.

Nathaniel Murphy, 56, of Maywood, Ill., was still being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond Monday, March 30.

He currently faces misdemeanor charges in Huber Heights District 2 Court of resisting arrest and obstructing official business and has pleaded not guilty. A pre-trial is scheduled April 7.

Illinois Department of Corrections records show Murphy was paroled in September 2008 after conviction for obstruction and destroying evidence. He has a previous Illinois prison record for burglary and theft.

Willie Murphy, 43, of West Chester, Ill., also is in jail on $25,000 bond. He awaits a grand jury decision on potential indictment for felony charges of breaking and entering and vandalism.

He also has an Illinois prison record, most recently paroled in December for auto theft.

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