Stephens College burglary suspect turns herself in
An estimated $13,000 was stolen from Stephens College residence hall.
Published Feb. 12, 2010
Whitney Bennett of Columbia turned herself into the Columbia Police Department on Tuesday on suspicion of stealing numerous items from her residence hall neighbor in late December.
CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said the victim's hall was burglarized sometime between Dec. 18 and Jan. 16, when the victim was on winter break from school.
On Jan. 16, officers were dispatched to a Stephens College residence hall to investigate the burglary. Officers took the report and processed the scene before handing the case over to the investigative unit, Haden said.
"There was a lot of stuff that was stolen," Haden said. "And it added up to a considerable amount of money."
Clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry were stolen from the victim's room. There was an estimated $13,000 worth of items missing, Haden said.
Bennett had moved out the residence hall in late December and had moved to 4500 Knox Drive in Columbia, Haden said. An investigator went to Bennett's house on Jan. 26 to question her but she did not answer the door.
Haden said while he was at the suspect's house, the investigators noticed a blue handbag in a car parked outside the residence. The handbag matched the description of one the items missing and the investigator completed a search warrant to enter Bennett's house.
"(Bennett) said she grabbed it by accident when moved out and she was going to return it," Haden said. "She gave us a conflicting interview later."
Bennett turned herself in at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday after making arrangements with the investigator of the case, Haden said. Bennett's attorney accompanied her to the police department.
"She declined to make a statement," Haden said. "She was processed and she was then transported to jail."
Haden said Bennett was arrested on second-degree burglary and stealing. Burglary is a felony with a $4,500 bond, but Bennett was first arrested for stealing the handbag, which is a misdemeanor, Haden said.
"It's up to the prosecutor if they want to amend that charge," Haden said.