MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 18-year-old man is being charged with breaking into 17 vehicles in one night at St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett and nearby neighborhoods in Memphis.
On April 19, Bartlett Police conducted an investigation regarding cars being broken into in the hospital parking lot off U.S 64.
That led to the arrest of Devondre Collins, who allegedly identified two accomplices.
Bartlett Police shared information with Memphis Police, who were investigating more than a dozen car break-ins in a neighborhood south of the hospital.
On April 26, Memphis officers found Collins and a juvenile co-defendant. They were both taken to the Appling Farms station for questioning.
During the interview with MPD, the co-defendant confirmed that he was in the car with Collins during the burglaries.
Collins was then taken to 201 Poplar and is being charged with 17 counts of Burglary of Vehicle and Theft of Property. He is currently in jail on $50,000 bond.
Police said the break-ins happened overnight from April 19 to 20.
St. Francis Hospital told WREG they have 24/7 security inside the building and outside patrolling the grounds on foot and in marked vehicles. They also said the Bartlett Police Department is located nearby and police officers patrol the campus lots when they are available.
“We continue to evaluate ways to keep our property and patients, staff and visitors safe including limiting entrance and exit points, increasing lighting and encouraging our employees to report anything that looks suspicious. Our motto is, ‘See something, say something,'” the hospital said in a statement.
