EXCLUSIVE: Homeowner spots burglar in bedroom; police searching for suspect

MILLCREEK — Unified Police detectives are searching for a suspected burglar who they said hit at least one house in the Olympus Cove neighborhood near 3700 East 3300 South.

The homeowners reported the burglary after spotting the man in their master bedroom.

“It was unnerving to say the least,” Linda Shepard said.

It was around 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, Linda Shepard and her husband Miles Shepard were home. Miles Shepard was in the garage vacuuming out the family vehicle, and Linda Shepard was upstairs in her robe after getting out of the shower.

“I heard the doorbell ring three or four times, then I heard knocking, knocking,” Linda Shepard said.

At first, she thought it was a salesman, so she avoided answering the door and went into the master bathroom. A few minutes later, Linda Shepard said she came out and saw a man standing 3 to 4 feet away from her in her bedroom.

“I yelled, ‘What do you want? Get out of here, my husband is downstairs!’” Linda Shepard said.

Linda Shepard said the man ran off. She then alerted her husband, and he tried to catch him.

“I have a concealed weapons permit, I grabbed my weapon, then jumped in the car and drove all around the neighborhood,” Miles Shepard said.

Miles Shepard wasn’t able to spot the man, but a neighbor’s surveillance camera did.

“Same hat, same dark charcoal shirt… there’s no doubt in my mind that’s the same guy,” Shepard said.

Police believe the 5-feet-10-inch tall man, with medium to slim build, and a heavy mustache seen in the video, is the same man who burglarized the Shepard’s home.

“We realized later, he took my wallet,” Linda Shepard said.

They said they usually never leave their door unlocked but did that morning.

“I learned I’ll never leave my door unlocked again, even if we’re home,” Miles Shepard said.

If you have any information about this case, or recognize the man in the video, please call the Unified Police Department at 385-468-9635.