A sergeant with the Kansas City Police Department is one of several car break-in victims. Now, after a two-week span, police said they have the suspect in custody.
T'Ahvalo Patterson is in jail, charged with four counts of theft and a single count of receiving stolen property.
Patterson's alleged crime spree began on August 25 when he allegedly targeted unlocked cars, including that of a KCPD sergeant, at the Planet Fitness on Barry Road and North Oak Trafficway.
Court documents allege he hit the area four more times within the span of two weeks taking wallets, purses, and electronics.
Patterson didn’t go far to get rid of the goods he’s accused of stealing.
Police found he sold a victim’s GPS at a pawn store five minutes away from the gym.
Detectives compared the surveillance footage to Patterson’s driver's license and arrested him on Wednesday at his mother’s house on North Mace Road.
“My son stuck his head out the room and they asked him who has was and he identified himself and they asked him to turn around and put his hands behind his back and I said oh lord,” Patterson’s mother said in an exclusive interview with 41 Action News.
She didn’t want to be identified but said her son began acting strange around the same time the alleged break-ins began.
“He would show up sometime about 2:30-3 o'clock--but I mean, he knows that if he doesn't come in here by 2 o'clock my doors are locked and he would have to sleep in his car,” Patterson’s mother said.
It’s in Patterson’s Honda Accord where detectives said they found the debit cards, driver’s licenses, social security cards and mail of 14 people, including the victims of Planet Fitness.
“I am so sorry. I really do apologize; my heart bleeds for them because I don't want this to happen to anyone period point blank,” Patterson’s mother said. “We all work too hard again, and my children have been taught better that. You don't take from anyone if you didn't buy it I'll pay for it you don't touch it.”
This isn’t Patterson’s first run in with the law.
Missouri troopers arrested him in Platte County two years ago for the unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Just last month police arrested the 22-year-old for violating his probation.
He told detectives he committed the break-ins because he couldn’t afford a lawyer for his case in Platte County.
“We can teach them the best of our ability, but when they get out of your sight you can't say what your kids will or will not do,” his mother said.
Patterson is being held on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to be in court on Monday.
-------
Andres Gutierrez can be reached at andres.gutierrez@kshb.com
