Man arrested in string of burglaries

BOUNTIFUL — Bountiful police have arrested a man suspected in dozens of daytime burglaries and say there could be dozens of additional victims unaware they were pilfered.

Officers recovered large amounts of jewelry — as well as coin collections, watches, cell phones, cameras and knives — from the man's car.

"There's just scores of jewelry. We've got necklaces, bracelets, rings, pins, the whole gamut," Bountiful Police Lt. Steve Gray said Tuesday. "Some of it's very cheap, but some of it's very expensive."

Officers arrested Michael Selin, 28, on investigation of burglary, theft, obstruction of justice and drug-related offenses. Detectives said Selin would break into homes in the middle of the day by smashing back windows, kicking out back doors or walking through unlocked doors. A few times, Selin was confronted but always had an excuse, Gray said.

"One time, he was coming up the back steps and a lady confronted him. He said, 'I'm here to do a tile job.' She told him she didn't order a tile job and he left. It wasn't until much later that she called us," Gray said. "Another time he was caught in a house and told a woman he was there for the missionary reunion party and then split."

Officers believe the burglaries span as far back as October of 2005. Investigations into the burglaries led police to a group of people, and Selin's name emerged as a suspect, Gray said.

Selin's car was stopped last week by Adult Probation and Parole agents, who held him while Bountiful police investigated him in connection with the burglaries. Evidence was recovered from Selin's 1986 Nissan Maxima, which Gray said the suspect appeared to be living out of.

Police were questioning another potential suspect on Tuesday, saying he could be linked to Selin.

Detectives tracked down some of the jewelry at a West Valley pawn shop, but a lot of it remained in Selin's car. Police were puzzled over why he kept so much of the jewelry.

Gray said investigators suspect a motive for the burglaries is drug-related but added that Selin is not cooperating with them.

Detectives are working at least 40 burglary cases across the south Davis County area linked to Selin, Gray said. More people may have been victimized.

"There may be many that didn't report anything because they thought it was futile," Gray said.

Anyone with information or who may have been victimized is encouraged to call the Bountiful Police Department at 801-298-6000.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com