Police: Serial burglar arrested in Tigard, about 100 keys recovered

TIGARD Ore. (KPTV) - A man is behind bars after police said he was found asleep inside a stolen car. However, that car isn’t the only stolen property recovered. Authorities said they also found roughly 100 car keys.

Unfortunately, many people in the Portland metro area have a personal experience with getting their car or car keys stolen.

“I got off of work late at night and there was somebody in my car that had a shaved down key,” Ryan Thorpe, who lives nearby, said.

Tigard police said officers made a big recovery over the weekend.

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Investigators said Sunday around 5 a.m. officers found a man, later identified as 30-year-old Trey Huggett from Gresham, asleep inside a stolen car on Southwest Maplewood Drive near Main Street.

Now, investigators are linking him to at least 10 separate burglary and theft cases.

Officers said they also recovered a stolen handgun, burglary tools, and other stolen property, including roughly 100 car key fobs.

People in the area say they aren’t surprised to hear how many stolen keys were found and they’re just glad the police were able to find them.

“I think it’s great. I think police are doing the best job they can,” Lynne Smith, another resident, said.

“It’s a good thing, I mean that’s a hundred cars, right there,” Thorpe said.

Investigators said they believe Huggett targeted dealerships and other commercial properties to gain access to the keys.

Huggett was taken to the Washington County Jail on 26 criminal charges – including aggravated theft, being a felon in possession of a weapon, attempting to elude an officer, identity theft, forgery, and fraudulent use of a credit card.

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People said it’s a reminder of why these days, they remain on high alert everywhere they go.

“I’m worried about my cars, my keys either being stolen or copied or using a shaved down one to get into them. So, definitely a concern,” Thorpe said.

“Yesteryears are gone, and we really have to try to help each other stay safe,” Smith said.

Tigard police said this investigation was a joint effort between their graveyard patrol officers, crime analysts, and detectives with the Commercial Crimes and Criminal Investigations Units.

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