Skip to content

Dresden homeowner takes steps to catch thief

Story by Shannon Taylor Senior Investigative Reporter

On Dec. 6 at 12:00 a.m., Investigator Ethan Lee with the Dresden Police Department spoke with a Dresden homeowner  who said that he had been having numerous problems with someone breaking and entering over the last month.

The homeowner stated that he decided to place a device inside the residence around Nov.16 to capture any subjects entering the home to commit vandalism or theft. He had multiple photos of 26-year-old Joey Wayne Smith of Dresden whom Lee stated he was familiar with because on Nov. 14 he was dispatched to the same residence regarding a male subject entering the home and believed by the caller to be stealing items.

On that day, Lee made contact with Smith and asked what he was doing. Smith told Lee that he had permission to be there from the owner, which Lee said was a lie in the report and advised Smith to get off the property and that he was officially trespassed from the property until he was able to speak with the owner.

Smith disobeyed that order and came back to the property on Nov. 17 and on Nov. 25. In the surveillance photos, Smith can be seen carrying multiple items and placing things in his pockets.  Smith also vandalized the home by busting the windows and ripping off the bottom of the floor up from under the front door as well as strewing trash all over the residence that was bagged up by the owner.

The surveillance showed the theft to be approximately $175.00. Since the photos were taken inside the residence, the device was also stolen as well as various hand tools. Smith was charged with criminal trespass, theft of property under $500 and vandalism.

DISCLOSER: All information obtained came from the Dresden Police Department incident report provided by Investigator Ethan Lee.