Police Arrest Two Suspects in Storage Facility Burglary

 
 
Two people were arrested in LaPorte for allegedly stealing items from a storage facility. According to the police report, on Monday, Aug. 19, around 9:27 a.m., police responded to Cedar Chest Storage facility at 701 J St. to investigate a reported burglary in progress involving two people who had been seen taking items from storage units and placing them in a red truck.

When police arrived, they spotted the red truck inside a fenced-in area with a blue Honda sedan blocking the exit. The property manager, who was on scene, told police he had the facility under observation when he saw a man and woman going from storage unit to storage unit, removing items. He confronted the couple inside one of the units and the woman told him the unit belonged to her brother. The name and information she provided did not match the rental record for the unit.

Sheryl Eaton, 46 of Michigan City, allegedly told police that she had been at the facility the night before and cut the padlocks off several units so that she and her boyfriend, 52-year-old Ralph Labarr, also of Michigan City, could remove items. She said she needed the money.

Both suspects were taken into custody, and Sheryl Eaton is charged with Burglary, as a Class C felony; Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor; and Criminal Mischief, a Class B misdemeanor. Ralph Labarr is charged with Burglary as a Class C felony and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class D felony.