(La Porte, IN) - A Michigan City man is facing charges in connection with the theft of an antique firearm and other items during a burglary at a senior living facility while it was under construction.
Christopher Amstutz, 49, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with burglary and theft of a firearm, both Level 5 felonies.
According to court documents, the break-in happened on February 24 at Bella Largo Senior Living in La Porte on Indiana 39 near the Toll Road. The items taken included an antique four barrel .22 caliber Derringer pistol, two other antique firearms, a Nepalese Kukri knife, a brass Mark V diver helmet and three scrimshaw whale teeth, police said.
Among the other missing items were a 55 gallon barrel containing electrical wiring and power tools.
According to court documents, security camera footage showed a vehicle pulling a trailer entering the property and leaving less than two hours later with a large barrel secured on the trailer with straps. Amstutz emerged as a suspect after a license plate reading camera system about 15 minutes later detected the vehicle entering Michigan City where it was found less than two weeks later in the 1000 block of E. Michigan Boulevard.
After finding the vehicle, police said Amstutz drove off in it and was pulled over with the stolen diver’s helmet just behind the front seats. Each count contains a sentencing range of one to six years.
