WEYBRIDGE — An off-duty Middlebury police officer played a vital role in the capture of an alleged burglar in a Weybridge home on April 20.
Middlebury police Officer Kristine Bowdish was off-duty in her personal vehicle in Weybridge when she noticed another vehicle traveling in a suspicious manner on Field Days Road, according to Vermont State Police.
Bowdish followed the vehicle until it stopped at a home on Meetinghouse Lane. When a woman got out of the car and entered the home, Bowdish called state police, who have jurisdiction in Weybridge.
Troopers, along with a Vermont Fish & Game warden, responded to the scene and found Lorinda Wall, 25, of Weybridge, inside the home. Police cited Wall for burglary. Police said they searched Wall’s vehicle and found property allegedly taken from other homes reportedly burglarized in the Weybridge area.
Wall was lodged at the Chittenden County Correctional Center on $25,000 bail, according to the VSP.
Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley credited his officer for her role in apprehending the suspected burglar.
“It was outstanding police work on the part of Kris,” Hanley said. “She was off-duty, had her eyes open, saw something suspicious, and thought she ought to pay attention to it, and did all the right things. As a result, she interrupted potentially a couple of burglaries — definitely one in progress, and recovered some property from some others.”