Burks admits to bowling alley burglary

Being out of a job and dirt broke is what an accused thief claims pushed him to use his position as an insider to burglarize the local bowling alley.

The suspect, Michael B. Burks, 24, confessed last Wednesday to burglarizing McMinnville Lanes, forcing his way into the safe there and taking $863 cash. Burks told police he had been out of work for three months and was becoming desperate because despite taking out loans to cover his debt, he had fallen behind on all his payments including his rent.

Burks is a regular bowler at the alley and friends with employees there. It was this friendship Burks admitted he betrayed when he stayed behind after the group closed around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. Burks said after a debate with himself, he put a bar in one of the doors to keep it from locking and then returned when the employees left the parking lot.

Then, after taking some trash to the dumpster in one last debate, he took a screwdriver to the office door and removed money from the safe. However, his getaway was foiled when one of his friends returned to take out the trash which Burks had just walked to the dumpster. Burks said he stashed the money in his pockets and threw the bags behind some machines in the alley before sneaking out to meet his friend in the parking lot. It was there Burks said his car had broken down.

However, a short time later, the burglary was discovered at which time police were called.

During an investigation by police investigator Nicole Mosley, it was learned Burks was seen around the bowling alley after his friends left. This prompted her to request a search of his person, at which time the stolen money was found and his confession tendered.

Burks told police his conscience was already bothering him before he was caught and he would have likely returned the money anonymously had he not been caught. He is charged with burglary and theft.