Teens charged in alleged theft from church

Two teens face substantial prison time after Des Moines County prosecutors formally charged them Monday.

Taylor Joseph Ruble, 17, of Burlington and his alleged accomplice, Jacob Lee Smith, a homeless 18-year-old, will be arraigned Nov. 16 on charges of third-degree burglary and possession of burglar tools.

Authorities contend the teens broke into the New Life United Pentecostal Church, 1748 South St., in October, stealing a laptop computer and a flat-screen computer monitor.

Ruble and Smith became the subject of an investigation after officers were sent to look at a suspicious vehicle parked in an alley near the 1700 block of Pine Street. A report stated people were seen changing license plates on the vehicle.

Officers found the teens and inside the vehicle were the suspected stolen items.

Upon checking the immediate area, officers found pry marks on the door of the church.

The teens had conflicting statements, police said, with Smith allegedly saying Ruble was the one who broke into the church as he waited in the car.

However, Ruble allegedly told detectives both pried the door to the church open so they could go inside to find some items to sell.

Ruble may face additional charges in connection with a separate incident where police say he engaged officers in a high-speed pursuit in a stolen car in September. The teen also is charged in an initial complaint for allegedly stealing another car shortly after the chase.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse being chased crashed into a ditch and ignited a small grass fire after the vehicle went into flames. Ruble fled the scene.

Court papers filed in the two incidents charge Ruble with second-degree theft, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent and felony eluding. A passenger in the Eclipse incident, who police identified as Cara Lynn Lock, 18, of Burlington, has been charged with interference with official acts.

Prosecutors are reviewing the case.

Police said the Mitsubishi was reported stolen Sept. 15 from a residence at Flint Hills Drive. They suspect the theft may have happened the night before the incident.

Later that same day, officers fielded a report regarding another stolen car — a 1993 Dodge Shadow — in the 3900 block of Spring Lake Road.

According to the investigation, the owner of that car saw it being taken from her Spring Lake Road home. She reportedly got into another car with her mother and followed her Dodge to Nikonha Place and Madison Avenue where it had struck a mailbox.

The owner reportedly told police she then found her car with the engine still running. Police said the engine was smoking.

The car's owner identified the alleged thief as Ruble, police said. The owner said she recognized Ruble because she used to be friends with Ruble's brother.

Ruble again fled the scene before police arrived, court papers show.

http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/Church-burglars-110509