Police investigate burglary report

Sheridan police are investigating an incident that started with the report of a burglary on Heartland Drive Sunday.

According to a release from Captain Tom Ringley, the police received a report of a burglary in progress at Hando’s Service Center at about 5 a.m. Sunday. The call came from an individual who was driving to the business and who told the police dispatcher he was watching a burglary in progress on his web-based security system.

Police dispatched to the scene found the reporting party already there and armed with a handgun. He said he had discovered a car parked on the property and had confronted the driver, but the driver exited the car and discharged some kind of pepper-based self-defense spray at the individual.

The driver then re-entered the cart and drove away. The reporting party said he fired his gun at the car, striking it several times.

Police later discovered the unoccupied car a short distance away from the scene. The car was a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu and had been reported as stolen in Hardin, Mont. The release from Lt. Ringley said evidence found in the car indicated that the occupants were engaged in a string of burglaries. Investigators did not see any indication that any of the car’s occupants had been struck by gunfire.

Reviews of surveillance systems revealed that the suspects, who fled on foot toward the interstate, were dressed in dark clothing and were wearing ski masks.

Lt. Ringley reminded residents to secure all property and buildings and encourages people to wait for police arrival and not to confront suspects unless there is an immediate risk of serious injury or death.