DUBOIS – Two people accused of breaking into and stealing from a veterinary clinic in DuBois waived their right to a preliminary hearing on Friday.
Both Katherine and Jeffery Knapp face charges of: burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking and possession of a controlled substance.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were dispatched to the Animal Hospital of DuBois on Sept. 28 at 7:15 a.m. Employees arrived at work that morning to find a window broken out of a basement door. That door was then unlocked and narcotics and syringes Also taken was a safe that contained $140 and narcotics. Officers also determined that an interior door had been opened with a pry bar.
Officers waited for the veterinarian to arrive who had access to the surveillance footage. Upon the doctor’s arrival, officers watched the footage and saw two people in the building at 12:04 a.m. on Sept. 28. The veterinarian identified them as Katherine and Jeffery Knapp. He knew them due to Katherine’s previous employment. Katherine was fired from her employment at the Animal Hospital in April 2010.
Another employee watched the tape and also identified both Knapps.
According to the affidavit both Knapps were recorded throughout the building as well as carrying out a safe and pulling drugs from a locked box and into a duffle bag.
Police learned where the Knapps were living at went to Stump Creek. The affidavit indicated that in plain view, on the floor of a vehicle parked at the residence, was a syringe. In the backseat was a plastic syringe container, the same police viewed at the Animal Hospital.
Police knocked at the door and Jeffery answered. He was then detained. Katherine then came to the door was also detained.
Katherine was advised of her Miranda rights and was asked about what she and Jeffery had done earlier that day. She initially denied involvement. She was advised of the footage and then admitted that they had broken into the Animal Hospital and taken the safe and numerous drugs. She provided police with consent to search and reportedly agreed to show them where the drugs were located. The total monetary value of the stolen drugs is $2,956.86.
According to the affidavit she led police to her bedroom, where the majority of the drugs were stored. The safe was located in a spare bedroom. The safe’s door had been pried open. Both Knapps were then taken into evidence. They were both given their Miranda warnings and admitted to the burglary and theft.