Court appearances today for 2011 burglaries

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WORTHINGTON — Two men charged this month with burglarizing a business in Adrian twice are scheduled to make court appearances today, more than 16 months after the crimes took place.

According to the criminal complaint, Brent Jacob Berger, 20, of Worthington is charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of theft and two counts of fourth-degree intentional damage to property.

Christopher Dale Wick, 21, of Adrian, is charged with two counts of third-degree burglary and one count of receiving stolen property.

The complaints state authorities in Adrian were contacted Jan. 31, 2011 regarding a break-in at the Crystal Steakhouse.

The glass in the east portion of the double door had been shattered, and more than $2,500 in cash was missing from start-up tills, deposit envelopes and pull tab money.

The bartender from the night before said he had left the building at approximately 11 p.m.

The officer contacted the convenience store across the highway to get surveillance video for their pumps.

In the video, the restaurant can be seen.

The officer, aware of Wick’s identity from previous contact, recognized his vehicle in the gas station lot.

He checked police logs from the night before and found a note that Wick and another male were seen driving around in Wick’s pickup at 1:30 a.m.

Wick was interviewed several days later and allegedly told the officer who he was driving around with, later changing the name of the other man to that of Berger.

He said he did not know anything about the burglary.

On Feb. 11, 2011, less than two weeks after the first burglary, a second burglary at the Crystal Steakhouse was reported.

When an officer arrived, he found the west door had been shattered, and tracks in the snow led from the restaurant to Maine Avenue.

Ten bottles of liquor valued at just less than $200 had been removed from the bar.

Within a week, a person came forward who said Berger had told a friend he had burglarized the Crystal Steakhouse both times.

Surveillance video showed Berger and Wick at the convenience store within minutes of each other shortly after 3 a.m.

By April, another person came forward who said Berger had told him he had been involved in the burglaries.

Wick was interviewed again, and allegedly said he was with Berger the nights of both burglaries.

Berger told Wick he was going to break into the establishment and had Wick drop him off in front of the Adrian Co-op both times.

He thought Berger was joking, Wick said. Berger later called and told him to pick him up again at the co-op. They went to the convenience store after both incidents, Wick said.

He did not assist in the burglaries, Wick said, and didn’t receive anything but gas money. The alcohol was consumed at a party they both attended, but Wick said he did not drink any.

Berger refused to give a statement.

The shattered doors cost $150 to replace each time, and have since been replaced with steel doors.

Both men have previous convictions for underage consumption; Berger just one month after the second burglary.

Tags: news, crime, court, appearances, burglaries