1 arrested, 3 suspects sought in connection w/Council Bluffs area vehicle burglaries

November 30th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Council Bluffs Police report one person was arrested and warrants were issued for the arrest of three other people, in connection with 10 separate vehicle burglaries in the Council Bluffs area. The incidents occurred during a period spanning October 16th to the 23rd, in the area of Lake Manawa and Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs.

Officers and detectives of the Council Bluffs Police Department were able to develop information on a burglary ring that was responsible for the break-in’s and obtained arrest warrants for the listed subjects.

Authorities say 27-year old Travis M. Schmidt, of Council Bluffs, is currently in custody and being held at the Pottawattamie County Jail. He faces charges that include 1st Degree Robbery, 1st Degree Theft, 8 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, 2 counts of Credit card Forgery, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Arrest warrants were issued for: 30-year old Katie L.Rief of Council Bluffs;25-year old Elizabeth M. Cozens, of Omaha, and 29-year old Jessica A. Fryrear, of Bellevue, NE.

Rief faces charges that include Robbery in the 1st Degree, 7 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Cozens is wanted for Robbery 1st Degree, 5 counts of Burglary in the 3rd Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct. Fryrear is wanted for Theft in the 4th Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

The Robbery 1st charge stems from an October 17th incident at the Council Bluffs Country Club, when an Omaha man witnessed a female breaking into his vehicle on the parking lot. As the man approached the woman, she noticed him and got into a Green Jeep Compass driven by Schmidt and they fled the area. The victim had jump out of the way of the oncoming Jeep to avoid being intentionally run over. The Jeep Compass was later discovered to be stolen and has since been recovered.

Anyone with information concerning the location of Rief, Cozens and Fryrear is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at (712) 328-4721 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.