A Kearney, Mo. woman has been charged with breaking into several parked vehicles throughout several Platte City neighborhoods. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Platte County Prosecutor’s office filed one count of felony stealing against Stephanie McKinzie, 19, in connection with the crimes.
Platte County sheriff Mark Owen thanked the community for their assistance in the investigation. He urged citizens to take precautions against this type of theft by removing valuables from their vehicles and locking them.
According to court documents, between July 20 and August 7, several vehicles were broken into in subdivisions along Running Horse Road and in the Seven Bridges neighborhood.
On Friday, Aug. 7, one of the victim’s credit cards was used at a local gas station. Video from the gas station allegedly shows a white female get out of a white Chevrolet Impala with no front license plate. The woman allegedly went into the store and used the victim’s credit card to pre-pay for gas.
That same morning, a white Chevrolet Impala was captured on private residence surveillance video in the Seven Bridges subdivision. A person with clothing matching that seen from the gas station video is seen getting out of the vehicle.
The Excelsior Springs (Mo.) Police Department arrested McKinzie on Sunday, Aug. 9 in a 2007 white Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle was searched pursuant to a search warrant, and several items that had been reported stolen from residents of Platte City neighborhoods were found in the vehicle.
McKinzie is being held in the Platte County Detention Center in lieu of $25,000 cash-only bond. If convicted on the felony charge, she faces up to seven years in prison.