Man Breaks Into a Missoula Business With a Hammer, Steals Cash

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On December 3, 2023, at around 8:50 a.m., a Missoula Police Department Officer was dispatched to a business in the 3100 block of W. Broadway regarding a burglary investigation. The officer arrived and met with the manager who reported that the doors to the business had been broken and she was uncertain if anyone was still inside.  

The officer waited for additional units to respond and the building was cleared. The manager confirmed no merchandise was stolen, however, approximately $549 was stolen from the cash drawer. The officer was able to review security camera footage on the scene.  

The Officer Reviews the Footage 

The footage showed a white adult male using a hammer to break into the business through the front doors. After the suspect entered the business, he made his way toward the cash drawer, opened it, and stole the cash inside.  

The suspect then walked towards the back of the business where he exited. During his attempt to flee, the suspect also damaged the rear roll-up door. There were no cameras outside of the business and the manager was unable to identify the suspect. The manager estimated the cost of repair for all the doors to be approximately $5,000. 

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At approximately 1:27 p.m., another officer stated he had had contact with an individual matching the description of the suspect. The officer stated the individual had reported his vehicle stolen. Using department resources, the original officer was able to positively identify the suspect as 51-year-old Gregory Kemp. 

Officers Locate the Suspect 

The officer called Kemp who said he was staying at the Citi Lodge. The officer met Kemp outside of Kemp’s hotel room. The officer immediately noticed that Kemp was wearing the same clothing the male on the surveillance footage had been wearing during the burglary. 

According to court documents, Kemp admitted he was the male in the surveillance footage, that he entered the business to look for paperwork-related items, and that he also took money from the cash register. Kemp said he already spent the money at a casino and on purchasing the hotel room, and that the hammer he had used was in the vehicle which he was reporting stolen. 

Kemp was placed under arrest and was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony burglary and felony criminal mischief.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.