Arrests could solve series of storage thefts

Two people arrested in a storage unit burglary may be involved in as many as 11 other commercial burglaries since July, a police official said Thursday.

Mary Louise Reasoner, 30, and Michael Kenneth Pierson, 41, both of Carson City, were arrested at about 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 4400 block of East Nye Lane on suspicion of burglarizing a South Sutro Terrace storage unit.

According to the arrest report, the burglary was discovered on Tuesday afternoon, and when the manager reviewed the property's surveillance footage with police, the culprits could be seen riding into the complex in a vehicle at 4:44 a.m. on Tuesday and being dropped off by the victim's unit.

The two thieves then cut the lock off the unit and entered. About 25 minutes later, the vehicle returned and the two individuals could be seen loading items into the trunk and back seat. The trio then left the complex. Each time the vehicle entered and exited the gated lot, a pass code was used. According to the arrest report, Reasoner's pass code was the one used.

The deputy also identified Reasoner as being the female on the surveillance tape, said Carson City Sheriff's Detective Dave Legros.

When investigators went to Reasoner's mother's house in the 4400 block of East Nye Lane to question her at 3:45 p.m., Reasoner and Pierson were allegedly unloading some of the stolen items from the vehicle into the house.

Reasoner's mother told investigators she had driven her daughter and Pierson to the storage unit and picked them up.

Legros said at least two victims were identified from the items recovered on Nye Lane. He said he suspects the cameras, stereo equipment, tools, comic books and other items came from an additional three more burglaries.

The Sutro Terrace complex reported five burglaries and a South Carson storage business reported six others.

They may all be tied to Reasoner and Pierson, said Lt. Bob White.

"If you have a storage unit in Carson City and haven't checked it in a while, we are advising that you go check your unit and make sure it's secure. If it's not, contact us, we may have your stuff," he said. "The two victims we called (Thursday) didn't even know they'd been burglarized."

Legros said more arrests could be pending.

Reasoner and Pierson are being held on $25,000 bail apiece.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.