Garage remote stolen from car, used in Richland burglary

A garage door remote control was stolen from an unlocked car in Kennewick and used to burglarize a home in Richland.

A 2001 Lexus was parked at a restaurant on Gage Street when a thief opened the door and stole cash, the vehicle registration and a garage door remote, said Richland police Capt. Mike Cobb.

At 7:50 p.m. on Friday, the victim received a notice through a phone app about his garage door opening while he wasn’t home. He returned to his house in the 400 block of Satus Street in Richland to see the garage door open again, and a man walking out.

The suspect told the victim he was “grabbing something from a friend’s house,” said Cobb. The victim didn’t want to confront the suspect and called 911.

The suspect took $5 found in the bedroom and drove away in a black 2016 Hyundai Elantra, parked near the victim’s home.

The burglary remains under investigation.

“We would appreciate it if people would start locking up their cars,” said Cobb.

Anyone with information about the burglary or vehicle prowl is asked to call the Richland police at 509-942-7360.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Garage remote stolen from car, used in Richland burglary."