Missoula Police Crack the Case of a Serial Burglar

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 22, 2026, a Missoula Police Department Detective presented the Missoula County Attorney’s Office with an extensive investigation into a serial residential burglar targeting Missoula homes between November 2025 and January 2026. 39-year-old Nicholas Riley primarily enters unlocked homes, but sometimes resorts to forcing entry when necessary to steal cash and personal items. According to court documents, MPD apprehended Riley primarily by cross-referencing investigative leads that surfaced from the fifteen burglaries. 

On December 17, 2025, Jane Doe was inside her apartment with friends. She heard someone “messing with her locked door.” The person outside the door took the screen off her window and reached inside. One of her friends screamed, causing the offender to flee. Doe stated that she reviewed surveillance footage and identified the offender as someone she recognized as “James Roman.” 

On December 19, 2025, Doe was asleep inside her apartment when the same offender entered her apartment and stole her purse. Her purse contained $400, a Social Security card, and an identification card. Doe’s purse was located in a nearby stairwell, and only the cash was missing. Doe showed the officer video footage of the burglary.  

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A detective compared video footage of the burglary offender with footage from Riley’s later arrest on January 2, 2026, for obstructing a police officer and possessing drug paraphernalia. When asked to identify himself, Riley provided the false name and alias of “James Roman” to officers. 

On January 19, 2026, a female, Jane Doe, and her boyfriend were at her residence in the 1200 block of Waverly Street. Doe discovered someone trying to open her window. The boyfriend observed him trying to remove a screen from one of the rear windows. Video footage demonstrated that approximately 30 minutes earlier, the offender loitered in her garage. The couple was unsure if he managed to steal anything. Doe’s boyfriend chased the offender as Doe called police. The offender jumped over a fence and fled through a nearby yard. Multiple officers familiar with the investigation opined that Riley is the same person who tried to enter the home. 

A male, John Doe, approached officers on January 19th as they were investigating the attempted burglary on Waverly Street. Doe stated that someone had broken into his home in the 900 block of Stoddard Street. The storm door had been forced open, and his bedroom door was open. Surveillance video of the subject who attempted to enter his residence matches the video footage of the attempted burglar on Waverly Street. 

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

The day after, Jane Doe saw the offender in the vicinity of the Nickel Ante Casino. A responding officer saw Riley enter the casino, and he acted as if he was trying to avoid detection by law enforcement. Riley was located hiding in a water heater closet. He had numerous items of drug paraphernalia, including tooter straws and multiple pieces of tinfoil with black and brown residue. 

Riley was arrested and transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with two counts of felony attempted burglary, two counts of felony burglary, and three counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $100,000. 

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