Burglar Uses Riding Lawnmower As A Getaway

Spokane County Sheriff's Department Press Release:


On Thursday evening, July 5, 2012,
Spokane County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 5500 block of South Conklin
Road in reference to a Residential Burglary call.  The homeowners told deputies
they had been at the lake over the fourth and when they returned home Thursday
evening had found their home had been burglarized.  Initially the homeowner knew
he was missing several firearms, valuable coins and a Craftsman riding
lawnmower that was taken from his shop.
 
At about 9:00 a.m. the same
morning, Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of Linke and White Road to a
report of a suspicious person riding a lawnmower down the road.  It was also
reported the suspicious person appeared to be carrying some type of rifle or
shotgun.  Sheriff's Deputies were unable to locate the lawnmower in the area of
White and Linke Road but did locate an abandoned lawnmower at about 19200 East
Belmont Road a short time later.  This was approximately seven miles from the
initial report at White and Linke Road.  The lawnmower was impounded for
safekeeping since it was not reported stolen.
 
At about 1:30 p.m., Sheriff's
Deputies began receiving calls of a suspicious person walking near Belmont and
Linke Road, which was where the lawnmower was located.  Sheriff's Deputies
located 22 year old Robert Morey sitting on an embankment and spoke with him. 
After providing his name to deputies it was confirmed Morey had an outstanding
Department of Corrections felony warrant for Escape.
 
Once in custody Morey told deputies
he was riding the lawnmower.  Morey said he and his girlfriend had an argument
the prior evening and she dropped him off on "some road".  Morey told deputies
he saw an open garage door at a house and took the lawnmower, as well as several
firearms and coins.  Morey did not have any firearms with him at the time but
did show deputies where he threw them off the side of the road.
 
Once deputies realized these were
the same items that had been reported stolen in the Residential Burglary later
that night, Morey was interviewed in jail.  Morey admitted to stealing a
shotgun, rifle and pistol.  Morey told deputies he discarded either the rifle or
shotgun on the side of the road because he thought it would be too much weight
on the lawnmower.  Morey said he dropped the pistol when he stole the lawnmower
out of the garage because he couldn't carry everything.
 
Morey told deputies he took the
guns because he was prohibited from having firearms and wanted one.  Morey said
he abandoned the lawnmower where deputies located it earlier in the day because
he ran out of gas.
 

Morey is currently in the Spokane County Jail on multiple charges of
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, 1st Degree
Burglary, Theft of a Firearm and 2nd Degree
Theft.