Brother implicated in massive burglary ring

Spokane County sheriff’s detectives have arrested the brother of the man charged with stealing more than $200,000 from businesses after they discovered evidence indicating the brothers worked together during recent burglaries. Earlier this month, detectives charged 37-year-old Troy Baumgardner with multiple property crimes after a search warrant on Sept. 5 netted stacks of electronics, shoes and building materials reported stolen from Spokane businesses. On Monday, the same detectives arrested Baumgardner’s 31-year-old brother, Theodore “Teddy” Baumgardner at his Deer Park home, sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said in a news release. “Detectives learned Teddy had been re-modeling his basement and determined wood used in his project was stolen from the May 29th burglary at Discount Lumber” in North Spokane, Chamberlin said. “Detectives also confirmed lights in the basement and wall heaters were stolen from Traditions Retirement Center on North Mill Road sometime in late May, early June of this year.” During the investigation, detectives learned that Teddy Baumgardner sent his older brother a photograph on his cell phone of an unoccupied house for sale which Troy later burglarized. During the Sept. 5 search warrant, detectives found a microwave, dishwasher and door frame which were taken from the home in the photograph, Chamberlin said. Also on Monday, detectives executed a second search warrant at 415 E. Montgomery Ave. – where they earlier found most of the goods from Aspen Sound and Payless Shoes – and learned that all of Troy Baumgardner’s furniture had been stolen out of a home just a couple houses down from Teddy Baumgardner’s Deer Park residence. Detectives “have had a difficult time finding the owners of several items recovered in this investigation,” he wrote. “Several victims told detectives they had not made reports for a variety of reasons.” Chamberlin said the case is a good example of why residents should always call to make reports when they become victims of crime. Following the search Monday, detectives booked Teddy Baumgardner into the Spokane County Jail on the charges of residential burglary and second-degree theft. “Both Troy and Theodore will be facing additional charges as the investigation continues,” Chamberlin said.