Janice Silver heard her dog barking in the middle of the night and knew something was wrong.
"He took off around the corner as if he's chasing something, and I'm thinking it's an animal, and then I see the car's window broken," said Silver.
The Silvers were one of 20 victims of a rash of car break ins that date back to May. Laptops, iPods, credit cards, and cash have been stolen.
It was another victim that helped break the case when she spotted her $600 Marc Jacobs purse on Craigslist.
"We were able to set up a sting where we actually purchased back that property from Craigslist from our suspect," explained New Albany Police Chief Mark Chaney.
Police said the purse still had an old receipt belonging to the victim.
Detectives were led to search the Reynoldsburg home of Robert Craig McEldowney where they seized dozens of stolen purses, laptops, electronics and even stolen patio furniture.
McEldowney is no stranger to New Albany Police.
"Nine years ago, we had been getting hit with high end golf clubs stolen out of garages, and we were able to tie him to those cases," added Chaney.
Police said no matter what neighborhood you live in, thieves look for crimes of opportunity.
"So we'll have to take extra precautions, being smart, keeping everything locked and purses out of the cars," said Silver.
Police said McEldowney did serve time for that previous crime spree and believe he is tied to at least seven of the 20 recent car break ins to him.
McEldowney's wife Brittany Simonelli is charged with complicity and also drug possession.
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