A resident who was paying attention is being credited by the Marion Police Department for helping them catch two men who they say were burglarizing a vacant home in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday.
At around 1:00 pm on October 18, the department received a call reporting some suspicious activity at a home in the 250 block of Blaine Avenue. The caller, a concerned neighbor, described two men who were inside the home which was known to be vacant. A description of a vehicle was also provided.
Officer Andy Isom and Detective Dave Troutman responded to the house a quickly located a broken window. Once inside, a suspect was found in the process of cutting out the home’s copper piping. Another suspect was found hiding in the attic.
Police arrested 30-year-old Paul E. McKenzie and 50-year-old Mark A. Combs, both of Marion. They were both charged with burglary and possession of criminal tools. McKenzie also faces charges of aggravated menacing.
Both men were transported to the Multi-County Correctional Center and await formal charges through the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This crime is a good reminder for citizens to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods,” stated Lt. Scott Sterling.
Anyone with information about this incident or any other suspected crime is asked to call the Marion Police Department at 740-387-2525 or the Marion County TIPS Line at 740-375-TIPS (8477).
About Marion Online News
