Officers Follow Footprints In Snow, Arrest Suspect

A would-be burglar who had a hardware store full of tools at his disposal was still unable to open the store's safe.

21-year-old Justin Walker Smartt was arrested Monday after officers followed footprints in the snow from the Hamilton store to a nearby house.

Smartt is charged with burglarizing Don's Home Center. His bail was set at $25,000 on Tuesday.

Investigators say the suspect broke into the store, took a power drill from one of the shelves and tried to use it to open the safe lock. Investigators say the safe withstood a sledgehammer and a crowbar, as well, before it was spray-painted.

Court records say several small objects removed from the office were found in Smartt's garage.

The $1,500 safe was damaged beyond repair.

Associated Press