Neighbors wrestle burglar to ground

Neighbors who saw Shawn Cooper and another man attempting to burglarize a Polson home Oct. 3, nabbed Cooper as the two men exited from a house not belonging to Cooper, and wrestled him to the ground until police arrived, said Michelle Scott, Polson Police Department detective.

Later, Cooper identified his accomplice  who escaped from the scene as Jordan Pluff, who was arrested on an unrelated Washington state felony vehicle theft warrant Oct 6, and is in custody at Lake County Detention Center waiting his extradition to Washington.

The attempted burglary, which took place Oct. 3 occurred at a local home and is one of nine Polson burglaries to occur in city limits since June, Scott said.

Items found on Cooper gave officials adequate suspicion to apply for, and receive a search warrant for Coopers residence, where they found items from at least two, and possibly three other burglaries, Scott said.

Scott said the police department is looking for at least four additional burglary suspects.

Perpetrators who are committing the Polson burglaries appear to be targeting a specific type of home.

Vulnerable building appear to be vacation homes, houses for sale, houses whose residents recently died and houses whose residents were moved to nursing facilities, Scott said.

Along with guns and cash, burglars are taking odd items, like comforters, boots, expensive coats and bags. Scott said those items are easy to pawn without detection.

Scott said she believes the burglary problems correlate with drug use of methamphetamines and heroin.